Hi. Just a general question as I'm thinking of applying for a revaluation on my mothers bungalow.

My mother lives in a road with over 200 2-story houses. However, there is one block of 8 semi-detached bungalows of which she owns one. They are all the same from the outside and were built all the same as 3 bedroom bungalows. Checking the valuation ratings, 7 of them are in band D of which she is one. One other is in band E. presumably that is because it has been converted to a 4 bedroom - looking on Google earth, there is a dormer on the roof at the rear.

My mothers bungalow, which she moved into in 2009 is a two bedroom - a bedroom had been sacrificed to give it a larger kitchen/diner. That's how it was when she moved in and I get the impression it was done just before then (house was empty and bought as a repossession from a building society so unable to get any info from previous tenants).

In my opinion, a two bedroom bungalow is worth less than any of the adjoining three bedroom ones so my question is, should that be grounds enough for a lowering of the council band valuation? Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
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Ratings are based on rental value the amenities available ( made up road, pavement, street lights etc) however you must be in possession of the full facts of why the house is in band D, the rate assessing officer will ask you why it should be reduced, don't go down that route, ask why as it is a 2 bed and the others are 3 bed it is rated the same. he/she/they will say if you argue the reduction that they consider it is fair and that their decision is final. You must get them to justify their rating not argue for a reduction, got caught out on that before and when the rating officer makes his final statement it is usually upheld and you are lumbered, he has legal training and has overridden many a poor applicant before. Don't get side tracked always come back with "how do you justify the rating?" never try to justify your reasoning, they want as much cash as possible. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
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I would think the loss of a bedroom would be a valid reason to request a review of the tax band.

You can do it online: https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals/challenge-your-band

You would probably be required to show proof that the alterations were done by a previous occupant.

A friend of mine bought a brand new 4 bed house a few years back, so the exact value was obvious from the word go

When he, and his neighbours, got their first council tax 'demand' there was an extra 50-60k IIRC added onto the value, jumping the council tax band up 2 levels.

The all appealed as a group, and the council admitted they had used photos taken from a helicopter they leased in order to guesstimate the values.

The council conceded and lowered the bandings, but it took over a year to sort.

It's not councils who set or change Tax Bands, it's the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) who do this. If you buy a new property and feel that the Band assessment is too high, you need to challenge it within 6 months of purchase.

GeorgeB wrote:

I would think the loss of a bedroom would be a valid reason to request a review of the tax band.

You can do it online: https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals/challenge-your-band

You would probably be required to show proof that the alterations were done by a previous occupant.

Well, the only way I can see is on rightmove that lists the actual selling price of houses.

This is the listing for her house and as you can see, it had two bedrooms when she bought it. It also looks like it's been two bedrooms since st least 1995 unless records don't show number of bedrooms on previous sales.

Click image to enlarge

Oh, I see it gained £50,000 in less than one year and then actually LOST a grand in 6 years after that! I magine it was bought as a derelict 3 bedroom and developed into the two bed it is now. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
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