The council tax is a local tax set by local councils to help pay for local services.
This web page explains, for England, how properties are valued, what this means for your council tax bill and how you can appeal against your valuation. However it should not be regarded as a complete guide to the law. Click on each heading below to read more.
Each dwelling is placed on a valuation list in one of eight valuation bands, ranging from A to H. The list will show only the band to which your home has been allocated, not its actual value. If you would like to find out the council tax banding of a specific property in England and Wales you may do so by clicking on the Valuation Office Agency's website.
Any enquiries regarding this website must be directed to the Valuation Office Agency:
Listing Officer
Council Tax East
Valuation Office Agency
Ground Floor
Ferrers House
Castle Meadow Road
Nottingham
NG2 1AB
Tel: 03000 501 501
Email: eastmidlandsgroup.vo@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Valuations are carried out by the listing officer at the Valuation Office Agency (part of HM Revenue and Customs), not your local council. Any dispute regarding your council tax banding must therefore be discussed with the Valuation Office Agency. The basis of valuation is the "capital value" of each dwelling. Valuation lists can only be compiled fairly by assessing the values of dwellings on one common date. 1st April 1991 is the date which was chosen for this exercise.
Capital values are arrived at by estimating the amount each dwelling might have been sold for on the open market, subject to certain assumptions, if it had been sold on 1st April 1991 (taking account of any significant change to the property between then and 1st April 1993, such as an extension). The object is to determine the relative values of properties within a particular area as at a particular date. Changes in value since then do not normally count (but see section 5).
The range of values, based on 1991 prices, which each band covers, for England, is as follows:
Band Range of values (at 1st April 1991)
A. Up to 40,000 pounds
B. Over 40,000 pounds and up to 52,000 pounds
C. Over 52,000 pounds and up to 68,000 pounds
D. Over 68,000 pounds and up to 88,000 pounds
E. Over 88,000 pounds and up to 120,000 pounds
F. Over 120,000 pounds and up to 160,000 pounds
G. Over 160,000 pounds and up to 320,000 pounds
H. Over 320,000 pounds
Within a local area, the council tax bill for each of the different bands will differ according to proportions laid down by law. The proportions are:
Band A - 6
Band B - 7
Band C - 8
Band D - 9
Band E - 11
Band F - 13
Band G - 15
Band H - 18
So, for example, if the council tax for a dwelling in band A is £120, the council tax for one in band D will be one and a half times that amount (6:9) - £180 - for one in band H three times that amount (6:18) - £360 pounds - and for a dwelling in band F, it will be £260 (6:13).
Houses, flats, bungalows and maisonettes all count as dwellings provided that they are at least partly used for domestic purposes. And if part of the property - for example, an annex - is entirely separate and self-contained, that, too, will count as a separate dwelling in its own right. Mobile homes and houseboats also count as dwellings if they are someone's main home. Certain other properties, however, such as houses occupied by more than one household who share cooking and washing facilities (for example, groups of bed-sits or some hostels) will generally only be treated as one dwelling.
In order to ensure that all valuations are carried out fairly and on the same basis, a number of assumptions must be made. The assumptions are set out by law, and include the following:
Because council tax valuations are always based on the price a property would have fetched if it had been sold on 1 April 1991, any increase or reduction in a dwelling's value which results from general changes in the housing market will not affect its valuation. Such general movements in house prices will not, therefore, be a reason for changing your council tax band.
The banding of a dwelling establishes its value relative to other dwellings in a local area. Changes in the housing market will mean that house prices will vary over time, both upwards and downwards. Generally speaking, though, such changes will occur in the value of all properties in the area and will not affect the relative values which the bandings represent. The government has not yet timetabled a revaluation of the bandings in England.
Individual dwellings may be re-banded after the valuation list is compiled, for instance (see also section 8):
If your home increases in value because you have carried out improvements to it, such as building an extension, the banding will not be looked at until such time as it (or any part of it) is sold. Any change in the banding will take effect only from the date of the sale.
If it is necessary to alter the banding, your home will be assessed on the amount it would have been expected to sell for on 1st April 1991. If the change in value is only slight, it may not be enough to move your home from one band to another. If you disagree with the new band, you may appeal (see section 7 below).
It is also possible that the listing officer may allocate your home to a different valuation band if he or she believes that a mistake was made when the current banding was first entered in the list. Again, if this happens, you have the right to appeal against the alteration.
Any special fixtures designed to make your home suitable for a person with a physical disability which add to its value should have been disregarded when the listing officer first valued the property. This means that your home would have been valued as if the special fixtures were not there, so as to ensure that your home is not placed in a higher band because of them.
On the other hand, if your home has special fixtures which reduce its value, they should be taken into account in deciding which valuation band your home should be in. This means that, because of the fixtures, your home may be placed into a lower valuation band than it would otherwise have been. If you do not think the fixtures have been taken into account - because, for example, they are internal - you should contact the listing officer at the local office of the Valuation Office Agency.
There is a separate scheme of reductions for people with disabilities, the details of which are set out in "A guide to your council tax bill". If you, or someone living with you, needs extra space to use a wheelchair, or a room, an extra kitchen or bathroom, because of a disability, you may be eligible for a one-band reduction to your bill.
If you think this scheme applies to your home, you should contact your council for an application form.
Yes, in the circumstances described below. You should appeal to the listing officer for your area (not to your council), who will normally be based at the local office of the Valuation Office Agency. An appeal takes the form of a proposal to have your dwelling placed in a different valuation band and must be made in writing.
Normally, you can appeal only if you are:
(It is possible to be liable if you are not the owner of a dwelling, for example if you are a tenant and your landlord lives elsewhere.) Your council will also have the right to appeal.
Making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of the council tax owing in the meantime, and you should continue to pay your bill while your appeal is outstanding.
There is no appeal against the amounts of council tax set by your council each year.
Each dwelling is placed on a valuation list in one of eight valuation bands, ranging from A to H. The list will show only the band to which your home has been allocated, not its actual value. If you would like to find out the council tax banding of a specific property in England and Wales you may do so by contact the Valuation Office Agency.
You can make an appeal against the banding of your home if you become the new taxpayer for the property. Otherwise, the grounds for appeal about the banding are restricted to the following cases:
A material increase in value may result from building, engineering or other work carried out on the dwelling. In these cases revaluation does not take place until after a sale - so the person appealing would normally be the new owner or resident.
A material reduction in value may result from the demolition of any part of the dwelling, any change in the physical state of the local area or an adaption to make the dwelling suitable for use by someone with a physical disability. In these cases revaluation should take place as soon as possible.
Rebanding will not take place if the increase or reduction in value is relatively small and not enough to move the dwelling to another band.
You can also appeal if you believe that your home should not be shown on the valuation list, for example if you think it is not in itself separate, self-contained accommodation. Equally, you can appeal if you think that it should be shown in the list, if for example it used to be used for business purposes which have now ceased.
If you wish to make an appeal, you should contact the listing officer for your area at the local office of the Valuation Office Agency, not your council. The address will be shown on your council tax bill. The listing officer will provide you with the necessary form to make your proposal. You will be asked to identify the dwelling in question, and state in writing:
If the listing officer needs more information, he/she will get in touch with you. You will not have to attend a hearing at this stage.
If the listing officer agrees with your proposal he/she will alter the valuation list and your council will be required to revise your council tax bill and adjust your payments if necessary.
If the listing officer does not agree with your proposed alteration, if you cannot agree on an alternative one, or if no decision has been made at the end of six months, the listing officer must refer your proposal to a valuation tribunal as a formal appeal.
The appeals process has been designed to be as simple and straightforward as possible. You do not need to employ an estate agent, solicitor, surveyor or any other person to help with your proposal. You may do so, however, if you wish and you feel it would be helpful.
If the listing officer believes that a proposal has not been made correctly, he/she may reject the proposal as invalid. If you disagree with such a decision, you will be able to appeal against that, too, to the valuation tribunal direct.
You can find out more about when you can challenge your band and what you need to do at gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band. If you challenge your band, you must continue to pay your council tax at your current band until your appeal is decided.
You can contact the VOA at gov.uk/contact-voa. If you are unable to use the online service you can also contact the VOA on 03000 501 501.
Where there is a need to write to the VOA, for example for accessibility reasons, write to their Durham address. As they are centralising all their post to this office:
Valuation Office Agency
Durham Customer Service Centre
Wycliffe House
Green Lane
Durham
DH1 3UW
Valuation tribunals are judicial bodies, whose members are experienced in hearing council tax appeals. They are wholly independent of the local council and the listing officer.
You will be notified by the listing officer when your appeal is referred to a valuation tribunal. In due course the tribunal will contact you to make arrangements for a hearing and will send you a booklet explaining the tribunal's procedures in more detail. Where possible, the hearing will be held locally. A tribunal hearing will not cost you anything unless you choose to employ a solicitor or other person to present your case.
Alternatively, if you and the other parties agree, you can have your case dealt with by an exchange of written representations, which the tribunal will consider without you having to attend a hearing. You should speak to the clerk of the tribunal if you are thinking of following this procedure.
Normally, the valuation tribunal's decision will be final. However, any party who appeared at the hearing may appeal to the high court against the decision or any order which arises from it, but only on a point of law.
If the tribunal upholds your appeal, the listing officer will be required to alter the valuation list. Your council will then revise your council tax bill and adjust your payments if necessary.
You must continue to pay your council tax bill while your appeal is outstanding.
Councils issue completion notices in order to identify the day when the work remaining to be done on a new building or a conversion will be completed, and it therefore becomes a dwelling for council tax purposes. It is then entered in the valuation list with effect from that date.
This avoids any of the uncertainties which could arise if the date of completion were fixed retrospectively, such as who was liable and for how long.
If you do not agree that the outstanding work can be completed by the date shown in the notice, you may appeal to a valuation tribunal. The completion notice will normally state the date by which you should appeal. That will be within four weeks from the date the notice was sent. If you have already received a completion notice which does not specify a date by which an appeal must be made, you should contact your council who will tell you when your appeal rights expire. Appeals should be made direct to the valuation tribunal, though you may choose to discuss the matter with your council first if there is time.
Contact the team directly on 01773 841440 or email council.tax@ambervalley.gov.uk
