Council Tax Banding!!!!

[AnnM1]

Did you see the programme on itv1 at 8pm last night? Apparently, when the CTB was introduced in 1991 mistakes may have occurred and many people may have been placed in the wrong banding. It was a bit farsical really as Estate Agents were required to do much of the work by travelling at approximately 5mph up and down roads/streets/etc. No properties were checked carefully! I have tried to access the recommended

www.voa.gov.uk

site but, as you can well imagine, it is being overloaded with enquiries. If you want to see if you are paying TOO MUCH Council Tax you can find out by trying the above address or have a look at

www.itv.com/tonight

If and when it is accessible some of us might well find we are in for a windfall.

 

[MikeP]

A lot of this is newspaper sensationalism; whilst it is true that some people may have overpaid, it is na

 

[smiley]

I haven't seen the programme yet, but have it recorded.

The house I have just rented was band E, the house I have bought is Band F and worth far less in money and smaller.

I will certainly be having a look! We were going to challenge ours anyway, but When I rang the council and asked what the bands were in 1991 and the values atributed to them I was told that they didn't have that imfomation.

Does anyone know how you can get that off the council?

 

[MikeP]

Council Tax is a tax which is set by a local authority to help pay for local services. It has both property and personal elements. The amount actually payable each year is based upon the market value of a dwelling as at 1st April 1991.

All domestic properties are valued for Council tax purposes by the District Valuer and Valuation Officer, who is a member of the Inland Revenue. He has a statutory duty to place every dwelling in one of eight valuation "bands", which are set out in the table below:-

Band Range of Values Tax proportion

A Up to

 

[MikeP]

Council Tax is a tax which is set by a local authority to help pay for local services. It has both property and personal elements. The amount actually payable each year is based upon the market value of a dwelling as at 1st April 1991.

All domestic properties are valued for Council tax purposes by the District Valuer and Valuation Officer, who is a member of the Inland Revenue. He has a statutory duty to place every dwelling in one of eight valuation "bands", which are set out in the table below:-

Band Range of Values Tax proportion

A Up to

 

[gavin_5121842]

Was i the only one watching the Big Brother final then?......

 

[smiley]

Mike is that for 1991, I hoping it is as the figures are low?

 

[BeemerMal]

I have queried my "F" banding on the basis that we had the house built new in 1995 and we paid market value at the time of

 

[MikeP]

Yes, all council tax bandings are as at 1 April 1991. There has been no shift to take account of inflation. Fairly simple if your house existed at that date, but difficult if it is a new house and there are few comparable properties in your area.

Even if you have an extension or other improvements etc, the CT banding will not be reviewed until either (a) a general revaluation takes place or (b) the property is sold.

 

[parker1158]

Hi All

We are worried to death in case our house is re-assessed. We bought it thirteen years ago in a run down and dilapidated state for

 

[cris_408518]

We had a similar problem last year, the house was still taxed by the council as though it was still original size.

The buyers solicitor picked up on the coucil tax band re what they were paying to purchase, all the Planning consent was OK and passed off so there were no worries after that.

 

[MikeP]

Martin & Cris - there's nothing to worry about. It's not lack of communication - it's the law. Look at the VOA website (if you can get in - it's very busy). http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/increases.htm

As long as you own the property and there is no general revaluation, then you will remain in the council tax originally assessed. If you sell, then the matter will be reviewed and the property may change band.

Look up your own property in the council tax list for your local authority on http://www.voa.gov.uk/. You should see an italic "i" next to your house name or number - this means that there have been improvements, and that the record is flagged so that the banding is reviewed when it is sold on.

 

[Moonstone1]

Hi All

We are worried to death in case our house is re-assessed. We bought it thirteen years ago in a run down and dilapidated state for

 

[dazicki]

has anyone in here got any money back yet?

does it apply if your renting your house?

i live in a terrace of 3 im at one endi have a front garden and rear yard house is how it was build

the other end is edentical but has a side garden too

in the middle has front garden and rear yard and a wopping great extension.

both ends are in a band b him in the middle is band a

all three houses are identical apart from his extension and the walls inside have been moved surely he shoul be charged more

i found out our house was only worth 35k in 2000 and only 24k in 1991

does anyone think its worth chalenging????

 

[MikeP]

Difficult to comment without knowing the area.

Your chap in the middle house has an extension. Has the house been sold since the improvements? If not, then it will not be rebanded until either it is sold or there is a general revaluation. Being in band A would reflect the fact that he has a neighbour each side, no side access, and probably a smaller plot. Mid terrace homes are less saleable than semis or end of terrace.

If you truly believe that all three houses should have been in Band A because of their 1991 values, then there is no harm in having a try. You have nothing to lose. But how much to gain? If average band D is around

 

[Neil_374240133]

Yes, all council tax bandings are as at 1 April 1991. There has been no shift to take account of inflation. Fairly simple if your house existed at that date, but difficult if it is a new house and there are few comparable properties in your area.

Even if you have an extension or other improvements etc, the CT banding will not be reviewed until either (a) a general revaluation takes place or (b) the property is sold.

If I'm correct you can appeal against you banding if a house in the street is sold and been succesfull with a challenge to the banding. I did this some years ago and moved down a band. You have a six month window if you buy and also if you rent your house.

Neil