Council Tax - appointment to inspect
Discussion
Received a nice little letter this morning from the Valuation Office Agency saying they want to come and inspect our flat to ensure we are in the correct tax band. If they cannot inspect because we are not in, then the council tax band will be "estimated utilising information known to this office"
Now, as most properties round here fall in to the top banding anyway, this looks like the thin end of the wedge as Fatty Prescott's mob start prying even more into our lives.
We shall therefore mostly be out the day of the proposed inspection.
Has anyone else received anything similar?
Now, as most properties round here fall in to the top banding anyway, this looks like the thin end of the wedge as Fatty Prescott's mob start prying even more into our lives.
We shall therefore mostly be out the day of the proposed inspection.
Has anyone else received anything similar?
Its weird, this. What possible information could they obtain from inside your property that pertains to the council tax band? Is it an excuse to see how nice / expensive your décor is in order to determine if you're wealthy enough to put up with a hike?
Surely all they need to know can be gleaned from driving past or consulting the Land Registry?
Surely all they need to know can be gleaned from driving past or consulting the Land Registry?
This policy really boils my p!ss something chronic
Fsir enough if you earn shed loads of wonga and live in a plush house (mansion) then you may fall into the higher tax bracket, but visiting residentials premises to ascertain (sp) whether you need to be in the higher bracket sucks moose coq
Anyone else get the feeling that the labour goverment is lubing up the population ready for a financial anal invasion?
Fsir enough if you earn shed loads of wonga and live in a plush house (mansion) then you may fall into the higher tax bracket, but visiting residentials premises to ascertain (sp) whether you need to be in the higher bracket sucks moose coq
Anyone else get the feeling that the labour goverment is lubing up the population ready for a financial anal invasion?
Excuse me but weren't the bands set some time in the 1980s/1990s on the then value across the district.
Therefore, if they do re-value the property now how will they account for the increase in property values since the bands were set??
Where I am you can't even get a garage valued below the highest band!!
Surely to make this work they;
a) need to value every property within the district.
b) create totally new bands with the distribution based on their valuation and how much they need to recieve as income from the tax payers?
Therefore, on the assumption that property values have increased equally since the last band setting excersise and assuming they aren't incerasing the council tax by a stupid amount then your council tax wouldn't change would it?
As to Council Tax increasing the government are pushing so many costs out to County/District/Parish councils without giving up any of the "central" budget so in order to cover these the county/district/parish will have to increase their "precept".
In my parish next year we will have to pay for the street lighting on all non A roads which will cost c£25,000.
This year the total precept that the parish got from the council tax was only £70,000 so this will increase our take of the council tax by 35%............the government will undoubtedly use this as evidence that "local government" does work........and some poor B
D (me) will have to stand up in front of the parishoners at the AGM and try and explain why he's put C. Tax by 35%!!!
Therefore, if they do re-value the property now how will they account for the increase in property values since the bands were set??
Where I am you can't even get a garage valued below the highest band!!
Surely to make this work they;
a) need to value every property within the district.
b) create totally new bands with the distribution based on their valuation and how much they need to recieve as income from the tax payers?
Therefore, on the assumption that property values have increased equally since the last band setting excersise and assuming they aren't incerasing the council tax by a stupid amount then your council tax wouldn't change would it?
As to Council Tax increasing the government are pushing so many costs out to County/District/Parish councils without giving up any of the "central" budget so in order to cover these the county/district/parish will have to increase their "precept".
In my parish next year we will have to pay for the street lighting on all non A roads which will cost c£25,000.
This year the total precept that the parish got from the council tax was only £70,000 so this will increase our take of the council tax by 35%............the government will undoubtedly use this as evidence that "local government" does work........and some poor B
D (me) will have to stand up in front of the parishoners at the AGM and try and explain why he's put C. Tax by 35%!!!pdV6 said:
I still don't see what basis an internal inspection would have for revaluing. Surely the tax band must be the same as similar properties in the same area and not means-tested on how nice your carpets are?
What the inspectors will check for amongst other things is to see if you have a nicer view or outlook from your flat than others in your development. If your outlook is deemed to be better, you can guarantee you'll end up paying extra!!
TypeR said:
What the inspectors will check for amongst other things is to see if you have a nicer view or outlook from your flat than others in your development. If your outlook is deemed to be better, you can guarantee you'll end up paying extra!!
Totally arbitrary and subjective then, how on earth do you measure that with any degree of fairness?
>> Edited by scorp on Wednesday 25th January 12:42
>> Edited by scorp on Wednesday 25th January 12:42
TypeR said:
I still don't see what basis an internal inspection would have for revaluing. Surely the tax band must be the same as similar properties in the same area and not means-tested on how nice your carpets are?
What the inspectors will check for amongst other things is to see if you have a nicer view or outlook from your flat than others in your development. If your outlook is deemed to be better, you can guarantee you'll end up paying extra!!
I understand that (although disagree with it most strongly!) - I still don't see why they'd need an internal inspection. Surely a block of flats that overlooks a park or golf course etc would all have the same advantage (and thus market value as compared to other similar properties) so why would they need to inspect each and every one?
scorp said:
Just because I've got a nice bathroom/kitchen doesn't affect my use of council services.
So why should I pay any more than the woman next door, who hasn't worked for years?
Because you can afford it, thats why.
And when I have to sell the telly to pay the council tax bill? Will they revise my banding down again? I think not.
The Valuation Officer does have a right of entry, although I doubt it is exercised often if ever!
There are potentially a number of reasons for the visit: -
They could have had an appeal on the banding of another local property and someone has quoted your property as a comparision, in which case of course they will want to see yours to see how it compares.
There may have been a reduction in Council Tax banding awarded somewhere locally and they want to see if that result means your band should be reduced (or more worringly increased)
In spite of the Council Tax revaluation due for next year having been cancelled the VO is still proceeding with work on a future revaluation and in particular creating a whole new computer database which includes things like the view etc. More of us can expect visits for this.
You wight want to look at the Valuation Tribunal website www.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk/ to see if anyone hear you has had a decision on their banding or phone the VO to ask why they need to visit.
There are potentially a number of reasons for the visit: -
They could have had an appeal on the banding of another local property and someone has quoted your property as a comparision, in which case of course they will want to see yours to see how it compares.
There may have been a reduction in Council Tax banding awarded somewhere locally and they want to see if that result means your band should be reduced (or more worringly increased)
In spite of the Council Tax revaluation due for next year having been cancelled the VO is still proceeding with work on a future revaluation and in particular creating a whole new computer database which includes things like the view etc. More of us can expect visits for this.
You wight want to look at the Valuation Tribunal website www.valuation-tribunals.gov.uk/ to see if anyone hear you has had a decision on their banding or phone the VO to ask why they need to visit.
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