No need to pay to have your council tax valuation band reviewed

You don’t need to pay to have your council tax valuation band reviewed, Exeter City Council has pointed out.

The local authority said that anyone could apply to the Valuation Office Agency if they felt the property they were living in was in the wrong council tax band. However, appeals to the government department may also see the banding go up rather than down!

The advice from the City Council comes after an elderly resident was contacted by a company offering to appeal against their council tax banding in return for an £80 fee.

Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for People, said: “Whilst this isn’t a scam, these companies are charging a hefty fee and we are more than happy to talk people through the process for free!”

“Council tax bands are not set by the City Council, they are decided by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). If people feel that their property has been placed in the wrong banding, we can help them appeal to the VOA.

“The process costs nothing but sometimes the banding can go up rather than down.”