16 Jan 2016

A question about : Council tax banding advice needed please

We purchased our house in July 1993 at a cost of Ј58,500 and were put into band D (68,001-88k). I found out years later that we were in a higher band than our neighbours, but didn't think much of it as our house is an end terrace that had been extended some time back in the late 70's/early 80s & was a 3 bedroom while most of our neighbours only had 2 bedrooms (or so I thought).

Anyway, I've just followed the instructions on here and supposedly, my house would have been worth around Ј67k in 1991 which should have put it in band C (52,001-68k).

I've checked the directgov site and it seems most houses in my post code are band C, although after looking through the Zoopla history, some of these house also have 3 bedrooms, but you wouldn't be able tot tell that from the road. The only other 2 houses in my same postcode that are a band D, have 4 or 5 bedrooms.

In my mind, when the council did their drive-by valuations, they went by the size of the house and because mine has a garage, it obviously looks bigger than the others. I've checked the valuations on these other band D houses for 1991 and their banding would have been correct to be in band D (both valued at just under 88k)

Question ... is it worth me attempting to get my band looked at?

This prompts a further question that IF my band was reduced to a C, I think my next door neighbour should be reduced to a B (I've checked her purchase price vs the value in 1991 and that seems like its been mis-banded as well).

Any advice would be greatfully received
Thank you

Best answers:

  • Given the inaccuracy of house price guides, your band may be correct. When I was in the VOA, we were working on a 10% annual decrease in price from 1991 to 1993, so say Ј72K in 1991, then Ј65K in 1992 then Ј58,500 in 1993.
    There is no harm in asking for a review but I would not be optimistic for a favourable outcome.
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