council tax re- banding

garbro394
garbro394 Posts: 1 Newbie
in Reclaim mortgage fees, council tax, etc
Has anyone challenged the council regarding valuation of self build properties. I built my own home in 1994 and it cost 65k, however i have been in band E ever since. based of the valuation scale i really should have been in C. Have i got a case to reclaim?
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Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    You'd be out of time to appeal - you can ask them to check the band is correct but the options to formally dispute it would be very limited.
    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.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,640 Forumite
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    Council Tax is based on the open market value of a dwelling as at 1 April 1991. 1994 prices were generally around 25% lower than 1991. Building costs are a poor guide to value. Frequently people forget the cost of the land when doing these calculations.

    As CIS said you can ask VOA to check if the band is correct, but unless you can point to properties locally of a similar age, type and size in a lower band, you will just get a generic "your band is correct" letter.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • madphys
    madphys Posts: 6 Forumite
    I wonder if anyone has any further info regarding council tax. I’ve recently (sept 2017) purchase a house in Wales which we stretched ourselves for. Having tried to calculate what we could afford with our budget I looked into council tax bandings at the time and what we would expect to pay. We’ve just found out that the banding has increased and hit our budget seriously.

    It’s a 5 bed house detached (extended 2001). We’ve fairly rural and not on mains services with no street lights etc. We are not considered low earners but outgoings with energy bills etc we are pretty maxed out (but thanks for the help on energy switching electricity providers...saved £250).

    I’ve read the guide provided and appreciate that it’s based on 1991 valuations but what else impacts the banding?

    We have changed our house name since moving so unsure whether this would have an affect.

    The previous owners added an extension to the property which means a direct comparison with our only neighbours is difficult.

    I very much want to challenge the banding but we seriously cannot afford the risk of an increase.

    Any of your help would be gratefully received!

    Madphys
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    madphys wrote: »
    I wonder if anyone has any further info regarding council tax. I!!!8217;ve recently (sept 2017) purchase a house in Wales which we stretched ourselves for. Having tried to calculate what we could afford with our budget I looked into council tax bandings at the time and what we would expect to pay. We!!!8217;ve just found out that the banding has increased and hit our budget seriously.

    It!!!8217;s a 5 bed house detached (extended 2001). We!!!8217;ve fairly rural and not on mains services with no street lights etc. We are not considered low earners but outgoings with energy bills etc we are pretty maxed out (but thanks for the help on energy switching electricity providers...saved £250).

    I!!!8217;ve read the guide provided and appreciate that it!!!8217;s based on 1991 valuations but what else impacts the banding?

    We have changed our house name since moving so unsure whether this would have an affect.

    The previous owners added an extension to the property which means a direct comparison with our only neighbours is difficult.

    I very much want to challenge the banding but we seriously cannot afford the risk of an increase.

    Any of your help would be gratefully received!

    Madphys

    In Wales a re-banding took place in 2005 (based on 2003 values)
    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.
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 12,805 Forumite
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    edited 8 February 2018 at 1:49PM
    madphys wrote: »
    The previous owners added an extension to the property which means a direct comparison with our only neighbours is difficult.

    This is presumably what will have resulted in the banding change - when the VOA become aware of improvements that increase the size / value of property, it's flagged to be reconsidered for re-banding at the time of the next purchase.

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-band-changes

    I think there's a way that you can see if a property has been flagged in this way when considering a purchase, but I'm not sure of the details of how to do so.
    madphys wrote: »
    I!!!8217;ve read the guide provided and appreciate that it!!!8217;s based on 1991 valuations but what else impacts the banding?

    In Wales, it's based on 2003 valuations. If the extension was built prior to this date [edit - have just noticed that you say it was] then if this is the reason they are giving for the increase then you might have a case....

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-how-council-tax-bands-are-assessed
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    I think there's a way that you can see if a property has been flagged in this way when considering a purchase, but I'm not sure of the details of how to do so.

    On the VOA online list of council tax bands there will usually (for some reason it's not always shown) be an improvement marker noted if a re-banding on sale is pending.
    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.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,640 Forumite
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    It is quite possible the 2001 extension wasn't picked up when Wales had the revaluation in 2005. What is the new band?
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Geoff_Grist
    Geoff_Grist Posts: 1 Newbie
    I purchased a new build house in 1994 May at £121,000, I have been put into band F, all my road have been placed in this band even though some were purchased for £113,000 (cheaper than mine they have single garage). Inflation increased over 10 per cent from 91-94. Do I or my neighbours stand any chance of a regarding?
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 12,805 Forumite
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    Geoff_Grist wrote: »
    Inflation increased over 10 per cent from 91-94.

    Not sure where you have got your figures from, but I think you'll find that average house prices were actually lower in 1994 than they were in 1991 - so it's not a good argument for being re-banded.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,640 Forumite
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    As p00hsticks posted, in most areas 1994 house prices were lower than 1991, often by 20%.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
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