Council Tax

[ILiveinhope]

We have recently moved home, into a council tax band E. Or so we thought. We received a letter at the beginning of the week stating that we are being shifted to a band F.

All other houses on the street are a band D or E.

We are appealing, has anyone else appealed their decision and can you give me any sage words.

Thanks

Bump

You may have been changed to a band F as the previous owner had improvements made to the property. If this was the case then the Valuation Office can reband when the property changes ownership.

You have six months I think from the notice of rebanding to appeal. You need to appeal to the Valuation office in writing, and you MUST pay your ctax bill in the meantime.

This is from the Valuation Office Agency website:
Increases in Council Tax banding, following improvements

When a property is improved (e.g. an extension is built), legislation prevents the VOA from increasing the existing band of that property until there is a ?relevant transaction?.

The term "relevant transaction" simply means that the property has been sold as a freehold, or a lease for a period of seven years or more has been granted or transferred (i.e. sold to another party).

If you are a potential purchaser, or a leaseholder thinking of extending the lease on a property you occupy, you should be aware that, if a property has been improved since 1993, the council tax band will be reviewed after the transaction has taken place. If a higher band is warranted, the new band will be based on what the property would have been expected to sell for on 1 April 1991. This is because all properties are allocated a band based on the price it would have fetched had it been sold on the open market on 1 April 1991. The subsequent increase in council tax will be effective from the date that the council tax valuation list, which contains the bandings of all homes , is altered.

Hope that helps.

Thanks I shall invetsigate further

I just wanted to add to the excellent post by scaryteacher that the fact the VOA have written to you to tell you your band is increasing is confirmation that the previous owners extended or improved the house in some way.

When we moved the VOA contacted us to find out what work had been done as there was no planning required just building regs. We stayed the same band as they had just taken a very small part off the back of the garage to create a tiny utility room.

If they already know they are jumping you up a band it shows that they know what work has been done. They are notified of planning permission and they monitor house sales.

You can appeal but if more rooms have been created ie bedrooms or converted garage etc then chances are you will be jumped up to an F band.

The other houses may have been extended too but not been sold.

I used to work in council tax FWIW!

Guess what I did for 10 years before teaching too!