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The Valuation Office Agency says it’s expecting an increase in the number of people challenging their council tax band in the coming months.
This is because council tax bills for the new financial year usually land on doorsteps in March, setting out the annual charge and the monthly payments expected.
Many households are expecting an increase of up to 5% – while some are bracing themselves for an even steeper hike. Last year, the government granted six areas – Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, City of London, and Windsor and Maidenhead – permission to raise rates by even more.
Ahead of bills landing, the VOA said: “The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for making sure that 27 million properties across England and Wales are in the correct council tax band.
“As council tax bills are being issued, we expect to see an increase in people challenging their band over the coming months.”
How to challenge your council tax band…
If you believe your home has been assigned the incorrect council tax band, there are ways to challenge it – but it comes with risks.
Let’s start by looking at why people can challenge their band if they’re in England or Wales (people in Scotland can find out how to challenge via the Scottish Assessors Association here)…
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) for England and Wales accepts appeals on the following grounds:
- Your house has been overvalued – you’ll need proof here, such as the sale price;
- Neighbours with similar or bigger homes are in lower bands;
- There’s been a change to the property (ie some of it has been demolished or it’s been converted into flats), or the surrounding area since the original valuation;
- You haven’t extended your home, or made significant improvements, that would justify a band shift;
- The valuation is wrong due to a legal decision on another property;
- The property details are wrong or incomplete.
How to gather evidence
The first thing to do is check what band…
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