How are Council Tax bands set?

Why your band is anchored to a 1991 (or 2003) valuation that may not reflect reality.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales, and the Scottish Assessors in Scotland, assigned every property to a band based on its estimated open-market value at the relevant valuation date. The original valuations were done at speed — typically with limited internal inspection — so errors are common, particularly on properties built or extended close to the valuation date or in streets with mixed property types. If your home is in a higher band than functionally identical neighbours, that's prima facie evidence the band may be wrong.

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