Council Tax Inspections
Discussion
I've just received a letter informing me that the 'Valuation Office Agency' would like to come and inspect my house for the banding of domestic properties for Council Tax.
They say 'we may ask to go inside the property', 'take photographs'..... 'if there are any alterations, additions this could effect your banding'.
I can see no information that says they have the right to do any of this. Do they?
Our property cannot be seen from a public road and is behind substantial and solid gates - so unless we open the gates, they cannot see or get onto the land.
I do object to the fact that these overpaid bureaucrats could make any attempt to extort more money than the £10 a day I already pay them for their zero services. Their £200k a year chief exec is a lazy t
t.I'm minded to not answer the gates, but wondered if they have a legal right to inspect?
http://www.adamafriyie.org.uk/PR%20-%20Inspectors%... might inform your decision as to whether to respond to the letter at all. They do have the legal right, but not sure how much access they can have without you talking to them.
Interesting - thanks.
The letter was not personally addressed, simply 'The Council Tax Payer' and then my address.
Because I may have improved my property, I'm not really sure why this should consequently cost me more to have my rubbish collected. I have one bin, the same as everyone else..... We don't use the schools or libraries and don't use any other council services I can think of.
We won't let them in - let's see what happens!
NDA said:
Because I may have improved my property, I'm not really sure why this should consequently cost me more to have my rubbish collected. I have one bin, the same as everyone else..... We don't use the schools or libraries and don't use any other council services I can think of.
Indeed. It's bullst, isn't it. I am in the same position. I have my bin collected once a month as I just don't have that much rubbish. 3 Tesco bags max a month I think.my parents had their house re-assessed from the roadside. It resulted in an instant increase in banding for no reason.
I'd hate to think what they'd do if they actually go into a property...
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I reckon they'll shaft you too, why would they assess somewhere if they weren't fully expecting to get more money out of you?
Makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside....
I'd hate to think what they'd do if they actually go into a property...
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I reckon they'll shaft you too, why would they assess somewhere if they weren't fully expecting to get more money out of you?
Makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside....
vxsmithers said:
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I wrote four times last year to the Head of Revenue Collection at my local council to ask him to explain their policy on charging full rates on empty properties (I had a couple of empty houses that wouldn't sell) - didn't receive a reply to any of the letters, including the hand delivered and registered post ones. My query was that I was already paying for their meagre 'services' on a third property in the same village, so wasn't clear why I was being charged twice more for school places, bin collection etc on properties with no occupants.They are truly answerable to nobody. And yet they have a right, so it would seem, to come into my house and take photographs with a view to charging me more to have my bin collected once a month.
NDA said:
vxsmithers said:
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I wrote four times last year to the Head of Revenue Collection at my local council to ask him to explain their policy on charging full rates on empty properties (I had a couple of empty houses that wouldn't sell) - didn't receive a reply to any of the letters, including the hand delivered and registered post ones. My query was that I was already paying for their meagre 'services' on a third property in the same village, so wasn't clear why I was being charged twice more for school places, bin collection etc on properties with no occupants.They are truly answerable to nobody. And yet they have a right, so it would seem, to come into my house and take photographs with a view to charging me more to have my bin collected once a month.
http://www.southhams.gov.uk/index/residents_index/...
but then that is only 6months...
I wonder if you could use that and:
http://www.southhams.gov.uk/index/residents_index/...
to get 18months free
I think the VO does have the legal right to inspect your property, however have never heard of it being enforced. The reality is they can do a lot of it using Googles Streetview, Google Earth, Planning history etc. They won't know your name as the DPA prevents local councils giving them that information.
If you don't give them access they will have to guess the banding, but do note they cannot take into account any extension or improvement you have made only those made before you bought it or those made prior to 1991. So if you double or quadruple the size of your house the banding will stay the samew until a revaluation or sale.
If you don't give them access they will have to guess the banding, but do note they cannot take into account any extension or improvement you have made only those made before you bought it or those made prior to 1991. So if you double or quadruple the size of your house the banding will stay the samew until a revaluation or sale.
Our council is useless, we moved into our rented property back in november and was told by the agents that we would receive documents from the utilties and the council so we could sort out paying for stuff. we got the water one first then a day or so later got the electric and gas, no sign of anything from the council.
after a week i was worried so phoned our agent who said it was strange as they are normally the first one to send documents through.
I phoned the council 4 times, logging each call and making a note of who i had spoken to - each one knew nothing about the previous attempts to find out what was happening. Finally we got a letter at the beginning of February with them demanded nearly £550. I hit the roof. My Fiance phoned them and told them there was no way we could afford that amount of money straight off and that it was their fault for ignoring all attempts previous. Best they could do was for us to pay half in feb and half this month.
Its a joke, and for what?! they dont collect your rubbish if the lid isnt closed, they have not fixed any pot holes on any of the roads round here, they wouldnt provide rock salt for public paths on our estate over winter.
after a week i was worried so phoned our agent who said it was strange as they are normally the first one to send documents through.
I phoned the council 4 times, logging each call and making a note of who i had spoken to - each one knew nothing about the previous attempts to find out what was happening. Finally we got a letter at the beginning of February with them demanded nearly £550. I hit the roof. My Fiance phoned them and told them there was no way we could afford that amount of money straight off and that it was their fault for ignoring all attempts previous. Best they could do was for us to pay half in feb and half this month.
Its a joke, and for what?! they dont collect your rubbish if the lid isnt closed, they have not fixed any pot holes on any of the roads round here, they wouldnt provide rock salt for public paths on our estate over winter.
I'd rather be taken to court than allow anyone through the door without my permission.
My house, my property, my privacy. End of. They can reclassify from the outside and write to me with their finding. What happens within the confines of my property is my business.
The thought of a load of goons in suits allowing themselves right of way to walk through my house making notes and judgment on how to stiff me frankly fills me with rage.
My house, my property, my privacy. End of. They can reclassify from the outside and write to me with their finding. What happens within the confines of my property is my business.
The thought of a load of goons in suits allowing themselves right of way to walk through my house making notes and judgment on how to stiff me frankly fills me with rage.
Emmapuma said:
Our council is useless, we moved into our rented property back in november and was told by the agents that we would receive documents from the utilties and the council so we could sort out paying for stuff. we got the water one first then a day or so later got the electric and gas, no sign of anything from the council.
after a week i was worried so phoned our agent who said it was strange as they are normally the first one to send documents through.
I phoned the council 4 times, logging each call and making a note of who i had spoken to - each one knew nothing about the previous attempts to find out what was happening. Finally we got a letter at the beginning of February with them demanded nearly £550. I hit the roof. My Fiance phoned them and told them there was no way we could afford that amount of money straight off and that it was their fault for ignoring all attempts previous. Best they could do was for us to pay half in feb and half this month.
Its a joke, and for what?! they dont collect your rubbish if the lid isnt closed, they have not fixed any pot holes on any of the roads round here, they wouldnt provide rock salt for public paths on our estate over winter.
Erm...you knew they would come looking for the money eventually, didn't you? Why didn't you just estimate the amount and put it aside?after a week i was worried so phoned our agent who said it was strange as they are normally the first one to send documents through.
I phoned the council 4 times, logging each call and making a note of who i had spoken to - each one knew nothing about the previous attempts to find out what was happening. Finally we got a letter at the beginning of February with them demanded nearly £550. I hit the roof. My Fiance phoned them and told them there was no way we could afford that amount of money straight off and that it was their fault for ignoring all attempts previous. Best they could do was for us to pay half in feb and half this month.
Its a joke, and for what?! they dont collect your rubbish if the lid isnt closed, they have not fixed any pot holes on any of the roads round here, they wouldnt provide rock salt for public paths on our estate over winter.
vxsmithers said:
my parents had their house re-assessed from the roadside. It resulted in an instant increase in banding for no reason.
I'd hate to think what they'd do if they actually go into a property...
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I reckon they'll shaft you too, why would they assess somewhere if they weren't fully expecting to get more money out of you?
Makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside....
I had my house assessed after I moved in May 2008. There was only one person who came, pleasant enough lady and did not appear to have decided to increase the banding regardless.I'd hate to think what they'd do if they actually go into a property...
It beggars belief that they can do this when it was properly banded in 1991, and no changes have been made. The resultant appeal failed, and cannot be contested again, so once again the bureaucrats have no-one to answer to and you have no appeal against their decision.
I reckon they'll shaft you too, why would they assess somewhere if they weren't fully expecting to get more money out of you?
Makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside....
She came armed with some very old plans of the property - circa 1960's I think - and only seemed interested in the fact that there were now fewer rooms than before. It was done before I moved in but I think 3 small rooms were made into 1. That seemed to make her mind up that there was no need to increase the band and that was that.
I would say that if you do prevent access you are only giving them reason to suspect that you think the current band is wrong.
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