General Chit Chat

[Bruce Rioja]

Malc, you're a star. I'll save one of these deep filled mince pies for you, and if I get some cash then I'll throw a petticoat tail of all-butter Scottish shortbread in with it.

[malcd1]

Malc, you're a star. I'll save one of these deep filled mince pies for you, and if I get some cash then I'll throw a petticoat tail of all-butter Scottish shortbread in with it.

Mmmm. Ta.

[Worthy4England]

Malc, you're a star. I'll save one of these deep filled mince pies for you, and if I get some cash then I'll throw a petticoat tail of all-butter Scottish shortbread in with it.

I used to work in the VOA as a rating surveyor when the CT bands were originally set. They're generally based on the Capital Value of the property at what's known as the antecedent valuation date (AVD) - so 1/1/1991. To be successful on appeal, other than some legally extenuating circumstances, there's a number of options. You live in a house that's ostensibly the same as all the houses around it but is in a higher band or there have been significant changes between the AVD and now that impact specifically your property. If you want to discuss further by IM Brucie, happy to see if I can offer any advice.

Generally on estate type properties (so anything outside of "unique" houses) it is difficult to get a reduction in your banding if you're the same band as all your neighbours, unless you can prove that the banding for all of them was incorrect at the AVD. However, over time, the Council have been able to look at the banding of properties every time there's a conveyance and take into account any alterations since the last conveyance, so if house X sold 18 times since 1991 and had a huge extension fitted, it could be in a higher band than the house next door, that had the same extenstion but hadn't been sold at any point.

[Bruce Rioja]

Cheers, Worthy. Mine's probably the only house on our close that doesn't have a fecking lean-to on the back of it, or conservatory as I believe they are sold as.

[Worthy4England]

Cheers, Worthy. Mine's probably the only house on our close that doesn't have a fecking lean-to on the back of it, or conservatory as I believe they are sold as.

Lean-to's and Conservatories have always been an interesting one. The VOA for a long time said they didn't impact Capital Values in a substantive way. I think this was overturned on House of Lords Appeal by Lord Myners in 2010 (but that's just stuff I read on the web, as I've not worked in the VOA for 20 years).

If you're in a higher band for no obvious reason - so all the properties around you are one band lower - then that's a good start.

So - heading back to the antecedant valuation date - if they all didn't have conservatories in 1991, and your house is in the same band then your banding (assuming the banding for the whole street was correct) would be correct as being in the same band as the others. The ones that have had conservatories added since, might have faced an increased band, when they've been sold, but only I suspect if they were somewhere near the upper border of the band when originally valued in 1991. If they were at the bottom of the band, then adding a conservatory is unlikely to take them up a band.

At the lower end, the delta between the low end of the band and the high end varies between 12k in band B to 160k in band G - so if they were at the low end of the band, you'd be arguing that a conservatory added 12k to the capital value, even at the low end of the scale. (Addition to capital value not to be confused with how much they cost to build). Frankly, I wouldn't pay 12k more for a house with a small lean-to vs one that didn't have one, even now, let alone in 1991 - fully fledged conservatory, maybe I'd add some on. .

So

See if you're in a higher band for no obvious reason - if so good.

If not, Fred and Mabel having a lean-to or moderate conservatory might be a toughie for you, unless the whole row of houses was either near the upper and or lower end of a band in 1991.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[bobo the clown]

I was scared they might introduce two brand new rates at the top. Fck ... Band G's high enough as it is !!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I'm keeping my head down. My house is band B. It's fully functioning, has water, gas, electricity, walls and a roof. It's also a three bed detached house with a huge garden and woods. I'm keeping schtum.

[Annoyed Grunt]

The John Lewis Christmas ad is lovely.....

[General Mannerheim]

... Makes me want to self harm.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Looking forward to The Snowman And The Snowdog this Christmas. will Socks melt?

[General Mannerheim]

I'm looking forward to Room on a broom! We love that book at bedtime.

It'll be the first time my 3yr old will see a film version of a book she knows, lookin forward to her reaction!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

[Worthy4England]

Awwwwwwww.

[jaffka]

A Christmas Carol for me

[thebish]

is that a broom or is she just pleased to see us?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

is that a broom or is she just pleased to see us?

I want to know what that dog's doing to that cat.

[thebish]

is that a broom or is she just pleased to see us?

I want to know what that dog's doing to that cat.

well - the cat seems to be consenting...

[Little Green Man]

I'm looking forward to Room on a broom! We love that book at bedtime.

It'll be the first time my 3yr old will see a film version of a book she knows, lookin forward to her reaction!

I'll wait until they film What The Ladybird Heard. I've got Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant down for playing Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len.

[Annoyed Grunt]

I'm looking forward to Room on a broom! We love that book at bedtime.

It'll be the first time my 3yr old will see a film version of a book she knows, lookin forward to her reaction!

When's that on?

My lad is looking forward to Mr Stink - http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12- ... p-mr-stink" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TANGODANCER]

I'm looking forward to Room on a broom! We love that book at bedtime.

It'll be the first time my 3yr old will see a film version of a book she knows, lookin forward to her reaction!

Just think, when she's a bit older you'll have all the joy of The Famous Five. Man, I loved those books.