council tax reduction - will they take note of improvements?
Lizzbet
Posts: 13 Forumite
I have rheumatoid arthritis, and use a power chair indoors. I've recently realised that I could ask for the council tax reduction because of the extra floor space for wheelchair use, but I would like to check something before I apply.
When we moved in to our present house, it was a 1 bedroomed cottage with a derelict barn attached. We've since had the barn built out, so it's now a 3 bedroomed house - with plenty of floor space. The council tax stays the same because they don't take account of extensions, improvements etc as a rule, but it would certainly be in a higher council tax band if it were assessed now.
But - if I draw their attention to the fact that there is now a lot more floor space, in order to apply for the reduction, are they then able to put the house into a higher band before giving me the reduction? Or am I worrying unnecessarily?
I don't want to be asking for things that aren't reasonable, but equally I don't want to miss out on what would be a decent amount of money. Anyone able to help please?
When we moved in to our present house, it was a 1 bedroomed cottage with a derelict barn attached. We've since had the barn built out, so it's now a 3 bedroomed house - with plenty of floor space. The council tax stays the same because they don't take account of extensions, improvements etc as a rule, but it would certainly be in a higher council tax band if it were assessed now.
But - if I draw their attention to the fact that there is now a lot more floor space, in order to apply for the reduction, are they then able to put the house into a higher band before giving me the reduction? Or am I worrying unnecessarily?
I don't want to be asking for things that aren't reasonable, but equally I don't want to miss out on what would be a decent amount of money. Anyone able to help please?
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Personally I would leave well alone.0
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I've no idea whether they will reassess the council tax band, but it wouldn't seem unreasonable if they do. My mum's friend lived in an identical house to my mum's, but paid one band higher as it was detached (mum's is a semi), yet my mum has more land.
The reduction for using a chair indoors is the equivilent of dropping one band.0 -
I have rheumatoid arthritis, and use a power chair indoors. I've recently realised that I could ask for the council tax reduction because of the extra floor space for wheelchair use, but I would like to check something before I apply.
When we moved in to our present house, it was a 1 bedroomed cottage with a derelict barn attached. We've since had the barn built out, so it's now a 3 bedroomed house - with plenty of floor space. The council tax stays the same because they don't take account of extensions, improvements etc as a rule, but it would certainly be in a higher council tax band if it were assessed now.
But - if I draw their attention to the fact that there is now a lot more floor space, in order to apply for the reduction, are they then able to put the house into a higher band before giving me the reduction? Or am I worrying unnecessarily?
I don't want to be asking for things that aren't reasonable, but equally I don't want to miss out on what would be a decent amount of money. Anyone able to help please?
They will not re-assess the council tax band - it cannot be changed (other than to correct an error) until the property is sold or ownership is transferred.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 have rheumatoid arthritis, and use a power chair indoors. I've recently realised that I could ask for the council tax reduction because of the extra floor space for wheelchair use, but I would like to check something before I apply.
When we moved in to our present house, it was a 1 bedroomed cottage with a derelict barn attached. We've since had the barn built out, so it's now a 3 bedroomed house - with plenty of floor space. The council tax stays the same because they don't take account of extensions, improvements etc as a rule, but it would certainly be in a higher council tax band if it were assessed now.
But - if I draw their attention to the fact that there is now a lot more floor space, in order to apply for the reduction, are they then able to put the house into a higher band before giving me the reduction? Or am I worrying unnecessarily?
I don't want to be asking for things that aren't reasonable, but equally I don't want to miss out on what would be a decent amount of money. Anyone able to help please?
Presumably you got planning permission and had the building works signed off?
If so it would have been reassessed then.0 -
Presumably you got planning permission and had the building works signed off?
If so it would have been reassessed then.
That wouldn't make a difference though, it would still only be marked up as pending a band review for the next time it sold.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 -
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]You can check if your property has an improvement indicator here, but as said above there is no way the current band will increase because of the extension until the house is sold.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands[/FONT]0 -
Thank you to everyone who has responded, especially CIS and tom99 who had such clear and authoritative answers. I'll be in touch with them next week and am pleased we should save some money - it'll go towards the increased electricity bills I'm expecting to receive as I'm using my new lift so much!0
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Thank you to everyone who has responded, especially CIS and tom99 who had such clear and authoritative answers. I'll be in touch with them next week and am pleased we should save some money - it'll go towards the increased electricity bills I'm expecting to receive as I'm using my new lift so much!
If you haven't already done so, request to go on the priority register with your utility companies. In the event of services being cut off (power cut, water off due to burst pipe, etc), you can get extra help. When the National Grid was replacing pipes last winter, we had to have the gas off for several hours a day, but they provided electric heaters because cold air affects my son's breathing and he was at risk of hospital admittance as a result. Also, if the water is off for any reason, and I can't get out with my disabled son, bottled water will be rpovided after a certain amount of time.
In addition, ring your local fire station (non-emergency number) and let them know that you usually use a lift. Our local fire service know that I have a son with learning disabilites and physical disabilities, so they have noted which bedroom he sleeps in, and have checked both of my fire escape plans for upstairs.0
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