If your property has changed or seems mis-banded, you may have the right to request a Council Tax review.
Properties in England and Wales are assigned Council Tax bands based on their value as of 1 April 1991 (England) or 1 April 2003 (Wales). If you believe your property is incorrectly banded, you may challenge this through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
You have a legal right (known as ‘making a proposal’) to challenge if:
- You have paid Council Tax for less than 6 months.
- The VOA changed your band in the last 6 months.
- Your property or local area has undergone significant change (e.g. structural alterations, change of use, or redevelopment).
If you don’t have a legal right, you may still request a band review by submitting evidence such as:
- Sale prices of similar properties around the valuation date.
- Up to five comparable properties in lower bands, matching on type, size, age, and location.
Challenges can be made online, by form, phone, or email. Council Tax payments must continue during the review. VOA decisions may take up to 6 months (legal right) or 12 months (band review). Appeals are permitted only where a legal challenge was made.
If you live in Scotland, then you need to use the Scottish Assessors portal website to check your Council Tax band and if necessary, lodge a claim with them (known as a proposal).
