Council Tax Rebanding

[wacomuk]

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

QUOTE

Many homes are in the wrong council tax band, and have been since 1991. Back then, the Tory government was trembling after the poll tax riots and was desperately awaiting the 1993 launch of the new council tax system. Yet it needed every house in the land to assessed and put in a valuation band. So, it outsourced the job to estate agents and others.

2nd gear evaluations

You probably imagine some duffle coated chap actually went into houses and said things like “two bedrooms? Is that one en suite?” but it was nothing of the kind. They had so many homes to assess, there was only one solution.

They sent people out in pairs, got in cars, and drove down countless streets, allocating each property a band with just a glance. Not only did they never get out, in the industry it became known as “second gear valuations” as they never even stopped the cars.

Even though this system was patently just a short cut; scandalously no government since 1991 has arranged any revaluation in England and Scotland, though the Welsh assembly has done it for all homes there. This leaves that flawed old valuation still dictating your band, which is why you could be paying more than your neighbour even though you live in exactly the SAME size house.

[RICHARD+PHILIP]

whilst I think money saving expert are brilliant for offers on cheap resturant and hotel deals surely thats rubbish!

I'm pretty sure none of our houses have reduced down to 1991 values (yet ) so unless the original people got it drastically wrong and banded a 2 bed house as a 5 bed (which should have been spotted by now)

my house is a band D 2 bed terrace but if I went to the council and got it regraded it would be a grade G which is ruddy expensive but hey I live in the south of England and the government thinks we are all millionares

ooh was that a bit of a rant sorry must be christmas soon baa humbug!

[SteveH]

If they re-value it they will do it as what it was worth in 1991 so if you were over-valued then you can get it fixed - they won't just say it's worth more today so you have to pay more.

Interestingly, if you want it re-valuing you can put a request in and have it done but the council can only choose to re-value when the property changes hands.  This is pretty handy for those of us who bought A banded rundown-relic country cottages and did them up  

[dombanks]

nice the house valuation bit highlights just how much negative equity im in  

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

My neighbour's house, identical to mine in size and plot area, is banded a level up from mine. Shome mishtake, shurely?

[combatsapph]

I'd rather not get mine rebanded - you can't see the extra 2 bedrooms, conservatory, decking and extended garage from the road  

[John Williams (Panda) - Joint Manchester AO]

I'd rather not get mine rebanded - you can't see the extra 2 bedrooms, conservatory, decking and extended garage from the road  

but when you move, 12 months later the new owner get rebanded by the council, as they monitor house sales....

I know becuase i am that buyer!!!!      

john