Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area
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I appealed and was told that my semi detached house is in the correct band and the decision is final. This is very unfair as my house which was extended pre 1991 had a higher council tax band than my neighbour who extensively extended in 1993 and also higher than a detached house locally which has been extended on three sides in 1995. In fact I find myself as the highest council tax band in the neighbourhood. We are talking of between £300 - £500 per year and rising, which is falling as I am a pensioner. HELP. MARTIN IS THERE NOTHING I CAN DO?0
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The way the law works is that the extensions made after a valuation list has been compiled are not taken in to account for council tax until the property is sold/transferred to a new owner. Without a change in the law this situation will not change.This is very unfair as my house which was extended pre 1991 had a higher council tax band than my neighbour who extensively extended in 1993 and also higher than a detached house locally which has been extended on three sides in 1995.
With the length of time you have had the property it could only be by way of a request for then to review the band, there would be no formal appeal as it would be out of time.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
I was involved in Martin's TV programme when he first talked about Council Tax. I had documentary proof that my house was in the wrong band. My house was built in 1991 and there are houses in my road that are exactly the same in a lower tax band. My claim was rejected and I was told that I had no right of appeal. Is there anything else that I can do?0
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I was involved in Martin's TV programme when he first talked about Council Tax. I had documentary proof that my house was in the wrong band. My house was built in 1991 and there are houses in my road that are exactly the same in a lower tax band. My claim was rejected and I was told that I had no right of appeal. Is there anything else that I can do?
Not once you are outside of the 6 month period.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
I've recently discovered I may be in the wrong band and that I can challenge this. The issue is that my property was built in 2010, it was a new estate and has grown since then so most properties nearby are also new builds. The block I live in has 1 and 2 bed flats and we've all be banded the same despite price differences. I've done a valuation check on the Nationwide calculator as well as using another valuation calculator and it falls below the threshold for the lower band in 1991. The problem is I can't argue about similar properties as I believe all the 1 bed flats in the block should be reduced, the 2 bed flats appear to be in the correct band. I'm going to call the valuation office to discuss but any advice would be helpful. Thank you0
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I have been ringing up the local VOA office on a weekly basis, giving them details of houses that are in a lower council tax banding to mine. I live in a double fronted 1930s detached house. The houses I offer as examples are similar in age, style, size etc etc. Each time I have been given a different reason for why the houses are not a good comparison to my own. Firstly, the bands were higher than mine, and should have been lower. Then the houses were smaller than mine - apparently the number of bedrooms is not comparable (mine is 3 bed, and some similar 5 bed houses are in a lower banding). Then I was told the number of bathroom is not comparable (mine is 1 bath, many are 2). Finally, I have been told that I need to find properties that are the same square footage as mine! After doing my research I have discovered that unless the houses have been own Rightmove or suchlike this is almost impossible (unless I go round with a measuring tape!) Furthermore, my house has remained the same since it was built in 1946. Many other houses built in this era have changed; been extended or turned into semi detached etc.
They are making it very hard for me. Can anyone help me with some advice?
Thank you, Emma x0 -
I've recently discovered I may be in the wrong band and that I can challenge this. The issue is that my property was built in 2010, it was a new estate and has grown since then so most properties nearby are also new builds. The block I live in has 1 and 2 bed flats and we've all be banded the same despite price differences. I've done a valuation check on the Nationwide calculator as well as using another valuation calculator and it falls below the threshold for the lower band in 1991. The problem is I can't argue about similar properties as I believe all the 1 bed flats in the block should be reduced, the 2 bed flats appear to be in the correct band. I'm going to call the valuation office to discuss but any advice would be helpful. Thank you
I wonder if the size of the flats are the same despite being 1 or 2 beds? I'd maybe check this first0 -
The problem with all of this is that councils need money to survive - now more than ever. And if you pay less, either someone else pays more, or council funding suffers a shortfall.Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.730 -
I live in a cul de sac of similar properties, and we are all band C. When we bought our house in 2003 it needed a lot of work and was priced to reflect this. Checking the valuation guide from when we bought against the 1991 value, it is at the low end of band B, only £2000 above band A.
As we have brought the house up tk the same standard and now similar values to our neighbours, am I right in assuming that it is not worth trying to claim?0 -
I live in a cul de sac of similar properties, and we are all band C. When we bought our house in 2003 it needed a lot of work and was priced to reflect this. Checking the valuation guide from when we bought against the 1991 value, it is at the low end of band B, only £2000 above band A.
As we have brought the house up tk the same standard and now similar values to our neighbours, am I right in assuming that it is not worth trying to claim?
Your purchase price cannot be considered as reflecting the true market value of that type of house in good repair. Also all house price guides are inaccurate and too generalised. So on these bases it is not worth trying to claim.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0
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