A valuation list containing the banding of every property is compiled and maintained by the Listing Officer, who is an officer of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of HM Revenue and Customs.
The value of each property is based on a value that the property might reasonably have been expected to realise if it had been sold in the open market by a willing vendor on 1 April 1991. This date is called the 'antecedent date'. The value is based on certain assumptions, such as being sold with vacant possession or state of reasonable repair.
There are eight valuation bands with the following values:
| Band | Property value on 1 April 1991 |
|---|---|
| A | Not exceeding £40,000 |
| B | Exceeding £40,000 but not exceeding £52,000 |
| C | Exceeding £52,000 but not exceeding £68,000 |
| D | Exceeding £68,000 but not exceeding £88,000 |
| E | Exceeding £88,000 but not exceeding £120,000 |
| F | Exceeding £120,000 but not exceeding £160,000 |
| G | Exceeding £160,000 but not exceeding £320,000 |
| H | Exceeding £320,000 |
Appeal your banding
If you feel that your property is in the wrong band, you can appeal to the Listing Officer at the VOA. The grounds for appeal are restricted to the following:
- where you have moved into a property within the last six months and believe the Valuation Band to be wrong
- where you believe there has been a material increase or decrease in the property value
- where the balance between domestic and business use has changed
- where the Listing Officer has altered the Valuation List without a proposal being made by the Council Tax payer
Contact from agencies
Agencies will sometimes contact council tax payers offering to help with possible appeals against council tax bandings. These agencies will take a percentage of any reduction made.
If you have reason to believe that your property is in the wrong band, you can appeal directly to the VOA yourself. Appeals can result in bands being increased as well as reduced.