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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Homeowners 'must check tax band' | Homeowners 'must check tax band' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Homeowners are being urged to check their council tax band to see if they are entitled to claim money back from their local authority. | Homeowners are being urged to check their council tax band to see if they are entitled to claim money back from their local authority. |
| Properties were put into council tax bands in 1991, and many valuations were wrong, said consumer campaigner Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com | Properties were put into council tax bands in 1991, and many valuations were wrong, said consumer campaigner Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com |
| He said those who have been overpaying could be in line for a windfall. | He said those who have been overpaying could be in line for a windfall. |
| Homes in Wales were revalued in 2005 and revaluation is planned in England and Scotland later. | Homes in Wales were revalued in 2005 and revaluation is planned in England and Scotland later. |
| 'Challenge it' | 'Challenge it' |
| Hundreds of people have reclaimed cash after discovering their homes have been banded incorrectly, Mr Lewis said. | Hundreds of people have reclaimed cash after discovering their homes have been banded incorrectly, Mr Lewis said. |
| He added many of the 1991 valuations made were "second-gear" valuations. | He added many of the 1991 valuations made were "second-gear" valuations. |
| "These didn't involve someone coming to your home," he said. | "These didn't involve someone coming to your home," he said. |
| ARE YOU ENTITLED TO A WINDFALL? 1. Compare banding with your neighbours. Visit www.voa.gov.uk (England and Wales) or www.saa.gov.uk (Scotland)2. Work out your house price at 1991 levels through www.moneysavingexpert.com/council3. If you think you are in the wrong band contact your local listing officer through the www.voa.gov.uk website Source: MoneySavingExpert.com | ARE YOU ENTITLED TO A WINDFALL? 1. Compare banding with your neighbours. Visit www.voa.gov.uk (England and Wales) or www.saa.gov.uk (Scotland)2. Work out your house price at 1991 levels through www.moneysavingexpert.com/council3. If you think you are in the wrong band contact your local listing officer through the www.voa.gov.uk website Source: MoneySavingExpert.com |
| "They are so called because estate agents would literally drive past houses and allocate a band." | "They are so called because estate agents would literally drive past houses and allocate a band." |
| Mike Linsky, a London taxi driver living in Milton Keynes, received £2,600 back after challenging the banding of his home. | |
| "People in the back of the cab say that council tax is the biggest bill they have and I tell them they should try and challenge it," he said. | "People in the back of the cab say that council tax is the biggest bill they have and I tell them they should try and challenge it," he said. |
| The process in England has been postponed while the Lyons review into government spending is completed, but reforms of the system are expected to be announced later this year. | The process in England has been postponed while the Lyons review into government spending is completed, but reforms of the system are expected to be announced later this year. |
| After revaluation in Wales, government figures show that there have been more than 18,000 formal appeals made about the new valuation - of which more than 10,000 resulted in an amendment. | After revaluation in Wales, government figures show that there have been more than 18,000 formal appeals made about the new valuation - of which more than 10,000 resulted in an amendment. |
| Earlier this week a report suggested the average council tax bill would rise by 3.5% in April. | Earlier this week a report suggested the average council tax bill would rise by 3.5% in April. |