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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let the council man in bedroom?

49 replies

pregnantpause · 11/12/2012 16:19

hello,

tomorrow I have a councilman coming to inspect my house, apparently we may be in the wrong band for council tax. I asked what he needs to see and he said that he'll need to 'have a look around inside the house and carry out a full inspection'Shock

I own my house and well, its not a show home and my method of tidying is usually make sure all house is tidy, except for my bedroom where all the crap from the rest of the house is stuffed to give the appearance of a clean and tidy homeWink wibu to refuse to allow him into my bedroom? he's welcome to fully inspect the rest of the joint? wwyd?

OP posts:
MrsKeithRichards · 11/12/2012 16:20

Just let him in! He's not a prospective buyer.

Justforlaughs · 11/12/2012 16:23

I'd lock the rottweiller in there and then let him at his peril (kids work well as well, Grin). Seriously, you are having a council man round to assess for council tax??? I've never heard of that. Have you requested the visit? If you have then I think YABU, if you haven't and don;t want it then I don;t see why you should invite him into your home at all.

PippinWoo · 11/12/2012 16:23

I doubt he really NEEDS to see in the master bedroom, but even if he did just say "sorry it's messy" and let him peak round the door. He probably just needs to see how big the room is and if it's got a en suite. It doesn't matter what he thinks. I'm the same as you - my bedroom is always a massive tip at the expense of keeping the rest of the place presentable!

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 11/12/2012 16:24

Presumably you want to make your house look as bad as possible, to be in a lower council tax band, so in your shoes, I wouldn't go nuts on the tidying up.

Softlysoftly · 11/12/2012 16:24

Do you have to let them in??

MrsKeithRichards · 11/12/2012 16:28

The state of your house doesn't dictate the rate you pay!

It's about size, rooms, loos etc. Not whether it's clutter free or not!

exexpat · 11/12/2012 16:28

I'm sure he won't be bothered by any mess - he's not an estate agent or your MiL.

One thing did occur to me, though - are you absolutely sure he is from the council? I have read recently about scams where companies tell people they can help get their council tax band downgraded (for a fee), when in fact you can do the same thing yourself without paying a fee, and often you don't get downgraded anyway. Did you get sent an official letter by the council, or is this just someone who phoned/knocked on your door?

openerofjars · 11/12/2012 16:29

You'll never see him again, so it doesn't matter.

Themumsnotroastingonanopenfire · 11/12/2012 16:30

What, seriously? Are you sure he's for real? I find it hard to believe the council is allowed to do this.

Themumsnotroastingonanopenfire · 11/12/2012 16:33

You don't even have to let them inside if you don't want to.

Justforlaughs · 11/12/2012 16:34

So I'm not just the only one who thinks this sounds dodgy, ring your local council and check that they are behind this.

Original poster
pregnantpause · 11/12/2012 16:34

no I didn't ask him to come- I got a letter to say he was coming and when, so I phoned to query it. he says that my house has been used as an example for why another property should have a lower band- so he's coming to see if they can raise mine presumablySad .

the letter wasn't headed though, so now I'm querying it.

perhaps I'll have to let him see my mess, although in a three bed, having seen the other two bedrooms ita not exactly hard to gauge a size of the third is it?!

OP posts:
pippop1 · 11/12/2012 16:34

I think it's fair enough to let him see the room to be honest if you are trying to get into a lower council tax band. I don't think the tidyness of the room will be considered related to which band you are in.

EuroShagmore · 11/12/2012 16:35

As other have said, are you sure he is legit?

Sallyingforth · 11/12/2012 16:36

Did you contact the council first to ask for a revaluation?
If not, it is definitely a scam to get a fee from you.

MrsMiniversCharlady · 11/12/2012 16:36

I was under the impression that a house can only be rebanded upwards when it is sold?

EuroShagmore · 11/12/2012 16:36

So the letter wasn't on headed paper? There is no way I would be letting this person into my house.

ParsingFancy · 11/12/2012 16:37

Oh yes, my workplace was targetted for a scam like this a couple of times, where someone claimed to be able to challenge council tax banding in court.

Definitely call council to check!

nickelbabylyinginamanger · 11/12/2012 16:38

I would contact the council if I were you.
it sounds proper dodgy.

LaurieBlueBell · 11/12/2012 16:39

Sounds like a scam. The letter should be on headed paper.

Don't let him in at all until you have spoken to the council.

Original poster
pregnantpause · 11/12/2012 16:42

Goodness- the letter hasn't even come addressed to me its to the counciltax payer. and the number is an 03000 number. it would appear I have been an idiot. off to find council number to call them.

OP posts:
caramelwaffle · 11/12/2012 16:42

Do not let this man in to your house.

You received an unsolicited letter with No letterhead.

Contact the council direct.

exexpat · 11/12/2012 16:42

Was the phone number you called on the (unheaded) letter, or did you contact him through the council switchboard? I would double-check if I were you. Could be legit, could be a rebanding scam, could be sophisticated distraction burglary technique...

EuroShagmore · 11/12/2012 16:43

Hurrah for the power of Mumsnet.

ZhenThereWereTwo · 11/12/2012 16:43

Doesn't sound right to me, all council letters I have received and those I sent out when I used to work for one always were on headed paper.

If he is council staff and you have his name and department you should be able to call their switchboard and be put through to him/someone else who can verify he is who he says he is.

He should also show you a council pass with his name and photograph on it before entry.

Seeing as you own your house and as you say: "he says that my house has been used as an example for why another property should have a lower band- so he's coming to see if they can raise mine presumably" I would refuse them entry anyway, if it doesn't help you why let them in?

You are not obliged to by law as you are not a council tenant and it is not an emergency situation affecting the public or council property.