Council tax band has been raised

[Reachingreach]

I bought my house 6 months ago. I've had a letter to say that my council tax band has been changed, from an E to an F.

This is because they say the previous owner carried out improvements - they converted the garage into a hobby room and added a small conservatory.

The other comparable properties nearby are all D or E, same size as mine.

Do I have any chance of appealing?

It’s based off house prices, have you done the calculations to what it would have been in 1991 and where the cusp of the banding is? The calculator here is useful:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/

100% you can challenge, you will need info of local houses sold prices, their council tax banding. If the local area has changed significantly this can affect banding too.

I would try to challenge but gather all your evidence first.

Thanks very much.

Based on those calculations with the price I paid and the rough 1991 price, it's only just in the higher brand price. Difficult to work out with my house was built in 1995 but assuming they're taking into consideration the changes.

Based on the current value of the neighbouring houses, they're in too low a band.

We went from a band D to an E when we bought our house as previous owner had extended . NDN has also extended and remains at a D (until they move). Annoying.

It does seem an unfair rule for it not to be changed until it's sold! Never knew it was a thing...

When an improvement is made if the band might be affected it's shown on the valuation list as a pending band increase. This would have been available to you or your solicitor to see before you bought the property.

Improvements such as extensions or loft conversions can sit as pending for years and years then the property is sold and boom the band increases. There are moves to change the improvement effective date to when they are completed rather than when the property is next sold, but that won't be popular with homeowners without plans to move.