Question 1

How do I know if my council tax band is wrong?

Accepted Answer

Compare your home with similar homes on your street: if properties of the same type and size sit in a lower band than yours, your band may be too high. Challenge Your Band reads every band on your street from the official VOA list, matches floor areas from the EPC register and real sale prices, and tells you whether a challenge is worth making.

Question 2

Is it free to challenge my council tax band?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Challenging your band with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is free at gov.uk. Challenge Your Band does the comparable-evidence research and gives you the ready-to-paste wording; the free official challenge takes under 2 minutes to submit.

Question 3

How are council tax bands decided?

Accepted Answer

Council tax bands in England are based on what a property was worth on 1 April 1991 (1 April 2003 in Wales), not today's price. Many were set quickly in 1991 and are wrong, which is why comparing with similar neighbouring homes can reveal an over-banding.

Question 4

Can my council tax band go up if I challenge it?

Accepted Answer

It can, though in practice band increases on review are very rare. That is why we cross-check your home's value against the 1991 valuation before recommending a challenge, and advise against it when the evidence points the wrong way.

Is your council tax band wrong?

Which one is your home?