Council Tax Banding

essex-commuter

Just wondering, has anyone on here ever challenged their Council Tax Band? Was you successful?

I've just been sent a rebanding notice. The previous occupier extended the property and me purchasing it has triggered the reband. Using an online calculator my current house price suggests a value in 1991 (council tax valuation date) that says I could be in a band too high. Also, every other house in my road is a lower band except for one (which is a considerably bigger property).

Any experiences?

jds_1981

No help here, but almost had a go at it myself when I was renting a middle floor flat that was a band higher then the one above and below...

essex-commuter

Well I've put the wheels in motion, will see if it gets me anywhere!

UndercoverElephant

I gave it a go, I looked at how long ago 1991 was and guessed that the previous occupier must have been paying a band too high.

Council checked the actual 1991 prices, and said that the actual house I was living in was sold in that year, and I was in the correct band.

davmaggs

You've probably been sent a fraud.

The scam is to say that someone in your street successfully appealed and now they are writing to you. It is a company that posts these out and NOT the council. The company is the winner in that if the appeal wins they bill you for a share, and if the appeal fails then you have a lifetime of higher council tax bills.

Its a home variant of the business rate scam (I wish they'd die of cancer as they plague my office with calls).

essex-commuter

davmaggs wrote:

You've probably been sent a fraud.

Who me?

lastant

davmaggs wrote:

The scam is to say that someone in your street successfully appealed and now they are writing to you. It is a company that posts these out and NOT the council. The company is the winner in that if the appeal wins they bill you for a share, and if the appeal fails then you have a lifetime of higher council tax bills.

This is quite a common scam, but don't think the OP has fallen foul of this here...it's his own investigation.

In terms of appealing, it's incredibly easy to do so yourself - simply check similar properties on the Valuation Office Agency's website, if yours appears to be uncharacteristically high to comparable properties then get in touch with your local office and appeal.

It could, of course, mean all those properties are in too low a band. Don't expect many Christmas cards if that is the case...

davmaggs

essex-commuter wrote:

davmaggs wrote:

You've probably been sent a fraud.

Who me?

yes, my comment was aimed at you.

Re-reading you opening post I could have misunderstand how this re-valuation was triggered. My point was that there is a scam whereby letters get posted to people that look official, but are not really from the council.

The genius is that people think that they have nothing to lose by going along with the application, when in fact councils can and do re-value upwards too.

essex-commuter

lastant wrote:

davmaggs wrote:

The scam is to say that someone in your street successfully appealed and now they are writing to you. It is a company that posts these out and NOT the council. The company is the winner in that if the appeal wins they bill you for a share, and if the appeal fails then you have a lifetime of higher council tax bills.

This is quite a common scam, but don't think the OP has fallen foul of this here...it's his own investigation.

In terms of appealing, it's incredibly easy to do so yourself - simply check similar properties on the Valuation Office Agency's website, if yours appears to be uncharacteristically high to comparable properties then get in touch with your local office and appeal.

It could, of course, mean all those properties are in too low a band. Don't expect many Christmas cards if that is the case...

That's exactly what I did. I'm one of only 2 band G's in the road. My 1991 online valuation suggests F (which the previous occupier was), the rest of the road is D & E but the houses are smaller.

I know the risk with the other properties being re-banded but I can't not do anything just because of that. I'm sure they are all correct (they look it), and if not..I hope even more that it's treated as confidential!!!

Allez Mark

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclai ... nds-change
Don't know if this helps but it seems many people could be overpaying. It's worth checking

sketchley

I challenged mine 6 months ago having looked at other bindings on the street, it didn't work... you only have legal right to appeal only in first 6 months since purchase, outside of this you have to accept the decision. so if you are going to do it do it now and push as far as you can. I cannot challenge mine I have to accept as i purchased 10 years ago....

bompington

Challenged ours years ago as we were a band above our neighbours, who had the matching semi. Turned down as we had a flimsy 4'X5' porch built by some previous owner, clearly while drunk, which apparently increased our floor area by enough to go up a band.

confused@BR

Did it ten years ago when we moved to El Casa Grande, you have a six months window to appeal. Went to the Tribunal and failed, of course; but I did get about twenty hours worth of Continual Professional Development out of it for free. The Valuation Office is pretty clued up at this and regularly wins. If you, or your neighbours have had alterations and not notified them, then look out!

essex-commuter

Worth resurrecting a thread for a success story!

I challenged the rebanding and the council wrote back saying no I was definitely a band G. I was told I would have to take it to a tribunal if I still disagreed. I had done a fair bit of research and was still fairly sure I was in the right so I took it to tribunal.

My hearing date was set for May 24th, 8 months after my first enquiry. I received a phone call yesterday to say that after further investigation into the information I submitted they would like to APOLOGISE for 'up-banding' me and I will be put back to a band F. £35 a month better off and a couple of hundred quid rebate.

That was the best phone call I've had in years! Yes I could afford the extra £35 a month but it was all about principal. I challenged and won.

rubertoe

Well done for sticking it to the man.

drays

That's a result! Well done

BigJimmyB

Sketchley wrote:

I challenged mine 6 months ago having looked at other bindings on the street, it didn't work... you only have legal right to appeal only in first 6 months since purchase, outside of this you have to accept the decision. so if you are going to do it do it now and push as far as you can. I cannot challenge mine I have to accept as i purchased 10 years ago....

We challenged ours at our old place (in Grays, Essex) after >6 months living there AND got a discount and rebate.

OP, suggest you go for it.

rubertoe

BigJimmyB wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

I challenged mine 6 months ago having looked at other bindings on the street, it didn't work... you only have legal right to appeal only in first 6 months since purchase, outside of this you have to accept the decision. so if you are going to do it do it now and push as far as you can. I cannot challenge mine I have to accept as i purchased 10 years ago....

We challenged ours at our old place (in Grays, Essex) after >6 months living there AND got a discount and rebate.

OP, suggest you go for it.

:roll: :roll:

essex-commuter

rubertoe wrote:

:roll: :roll:

+ :roll:

BigJimmyB

D'oh!

Note to self...read the whole thread....

:oops:

essex-commuter

BigJimmyB wrote:

D'oh!

Note to self...read the whole thread....

:oops: