A homeowner has reclaimed more than £7,600 after successfully challenging the Council Tax band on his property using guidance from Martin Lewis and MoneySavingExpert (MSE.com).
The case, shared by the consumer website with the homeowner's permission, is being highlighted as a reminder for households to check whether they could be paying more Council Tax than they should. Martin has previously said an estimated 400,000 homes across Scotland and England are thought to be in the wrong Council Tax band, meaning some households may be paying more than necessary.
Homeowner's experience
Writing to Martin, homeowner John Kennett explained that he decided to challenge the banding of his home after reading the MoneySavingExpert online guide. His challenge was eventually upheld, resulting in his property being moved into the correct Council Tax band and an overpayment of £7,602.71 being identified, covering around 18 years.
However, John said the process took almost a year to complete. He thanked Martin and the MoneySavingExpert team for giving him the confidence to challenge the valuation in the first place.
John wrote: "Without your advice and the guidance on the MoneySavingExpert website, I would never have challenged the Council Tax banding of my flat." He added: "Your advice has resulted in me recovering £7,602.71, representing approximately 18 years of Council Tax overpayments."
How to check your Council Tax band
MoneySavingExpert said John's experience shows why it can be worth checking your Council Tax band if you believe your home may have been placed in the wrong one. If you think your home could be in the wrong band, there are a number of checks you can make before submitting a formal challenge. These include: comparing your Council Tax band with similar neighbouring properties; checking when your property was built and whether similar homes are in different bands; looking at what your home would have been worth when Council Tax valuations were originally set, rather than its current market value; and gathering evidence before contacting the relevant valuation authority.
Households in England can ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to review their Council Tax band, while properties in Scotland are assessed by the Scottish Assessors Association. However, Martin has previously warned that homeowners should only challenge their Council Tax band if they have good evidence, as there is a possibility that a review could conclude a property has been placed in too low a band, potentially leading to an increase.
Where a challenge is successful, councils may refund Council Tax that has been overpaid, although the amount will depend on individual circumstances. John said he would still encourage others to check whether they are paying the correct amount, despite the length of time his own case took.
