House in too low Council Tax Band

My house is rated as a Council Tax Band A.

It shouldn’t be, it cost far more than a Band A.

Is it my responsibility to tell the council?

If I do, will I be liable for the underpaid tax from the 3 years I have lived here?

WWSTWD?

Aren’t bands based on ~1992 house price for houses that old?

What are your neighbours, the rateable value is something arbitrary like it’s value in 1991 or something.

I’d expect a band A to be a small terrace or a flat or maisonette?

Are you the District Valuer?

No?

Then you don’t get to decide.(although you can appeal your banding)

Just keep paying it.

Aren’t the bandings based on a nominal valuation from 1986-ish?

I’d expect a band A to be a small terrace or a flat or maisonette?

It’s not. That’s the issue.

Both our neighbours properties are smaller than ours and they are Band D.

There are discrepancies all over the place.

Our neighbours, who had an extension before the banding was done are above us. We’ve just had an extension, and loft conversion but it won’t affect the banding until we sell, I think the council can re-band then.

Perhaps when the banding was done, your house was a complete tip compared to next door?

You… want to pay more council tax?

The bands were set in 1991 and has never been revised, band A is for properties valued at <£40k back then (it’s probably what mine is worth right now…) The only way I can think of for the council to suddenly decide you’re in the wrong band is if they decided to reevaluate them all nationally. I highly doubt that they’re going to come after you for 30 years’ back pay over their own mistake, assuming it even was a mistake.

I’d expect a band A to be a small terrace or a flat or maisonette?

It entirely depends on the value at the time bandings were done, our 3 bed semi detached is band A

I had my house rebanded.

It was 4x flats when i bought it. I converted back to a single house and had teh council reases the 4xC’s into 1xA. The only issue for me was the length of time it took as 4xCs was way more expensive.

Having been through the process you have nothing to worry about. They are not going to change anything unless you start it and push it and several months / years later it will change. So just forget about it.

Both our neighbours properties are smaller than ours and they are Band D.

Plant a huge letter A in daffodils on your lawn. Then just wait until Google Satellite view updates. They’ll really appreciate that.

If you tell the council, and *if* they change it, they’ll change your neighbours’ bands too.

I’m not sure I’d envy that relationship going forwards. On the other hand, if you’re moving away and you hate your neighbours, it’s a genius plan.

You get a lower band, ie cost, if you have some medical assistance mods. I personally would say nothing and enjoy the saving. Near me theres a mixture of bands for the same property. I think if you haven’t challenged in 6 months you are timed out. I m the landlord so don’t pay.

Percy has used some technical language there that suggests some experience.

Keeping quiet seems reasonable, but don’t complain if it comes to light and the bill goes up

Our neighbours, who had an extension before the banding was done are above us. We’ve just had an extension, and loft conversion but it won’t affect the banding until we sell, I think the council can re-band then.

You don’t get penalised for improving the value of the property (unless there is ever a national rebanding exercise while you are still in it). There will be a marker against the property that your purchasers solicitors should spot when they do searches and then warn the buyer that it may be rebanded.

I work alongside the CT banding team. They really hate it when someone appeals their banding and the review means it – and all the neighbouring similar properties – actually need rebanding upwards rather than downwards, especially as GDPR means they can’t say who triggered the change

The banding is based on the purchase price of the property, if you got a good deal or your neighbours got shafted then it will be reflected in the band.

Look on moneysavingexpert for the calculator and you can figure out your 1991 value based on what you paid then see what band you should be in.

If you tell the council, and *if* they change it, they’ll change your neighbours’ bands too.

My neighbours are D, I am an A.

Look on moneysavingexpert for the calculator and you can figure out your 1991 value based on what you paid then see what band you should be in.

Well according to that website I should be a G.

The banding is based on the purchase price of the property, if you got a good deal or your neighbours got shafted then it will be reflected in the band.

Incorrect, the banding was based on the valuation of the property not the purchase price. In England and Scotland the relevant date is April 1st 1991, and in Wales it is April 1st 2003.

I live in a road of 13 identical houses and did not find out until much later that one on my neighbours had appealed the original banding, had it reduced and not told the rest of us. Let’s just say that they didn’t get invited to many social events once the news was out.