Brits could get major 32-year council tax refund says Martin Lewis

Millions of Britons could be owed sizeable council tax refunds stretching back more than three decades, according to consumer champion Martin Lewis. The Money Saving ExpertMoney Saving Expert founder is urging households across England and Scotland to check their records, as up to 400,000 properties may have been placed in the wrong council tax band due to outdated and often inaccurate valuations from the early 1990s.

In a new video promoting his BBC 5 Live podcast, Mr Lewis said many homes are still paying too much today because their bands were set by rushed assessments in 1991, originally intended as a temporary solution, leaving thousands potentially eligible for backdated payouts. He said: “It really is quite unbelievable that if you live in England and Scotland, the council tax band you are in today is still dictated by a stopgap drive-by valuation done back in 1991 that was only meant to last a couple of years.

“If you’re in the wrong band and you challenge it, not only can you get it lowered, you can get a backdated payout back to when you moved in, or 1993, whichever was sooner.”

However, the money guru urged, “Don’t just do this speculatively. Because then, you could get it wrong, and they put your band up, or even your neighbour’s band up. You need to follow my full step-by-step check and challenge process.”

Council tax payments depend on the property’s band, which is determined by the value of the home as of April 1, 1991, and these bands range from A to H.

To dispute a band, Mr Lewis’s ‘Check and Challenge’ method comprises two steps. This includes comparing the band of your property to your neighbours, and checking the valuation of your property in 1991.

To check a neighbour’s band, visit Valuation Office Agency if you’re in England, or Scottish Assessors Association website if you’re in Scotland.

When comparing your band with your neighbours’, make sure the properties are as similar in size and value as they would have been in 1991. If neighbours with similar properties are in a lower band than you, you may be able to make a claim.

To find out the valuation of your property in 1991, visit a property site like Rightmove or Zoopla and input your street name. Here, you should be able to see the sales history of the property.

In England, the council tax bands based on the value of a property on April 1, 1991, include:

• Band A - property value up to £40,000
• Band B - property value over £40,000 and up to £52,000
• Band C - property value over £52,000 and up to £68,000
• Band D - property value over £68,000 and up to £88,000
• Band E - property value over £88,000 and up to £120,000
• Band F - property value over £120,000 and up to £160,000
• Band G - property value over £160,000 and up to £320,000
• Band H - property value over £320,000.

In Scotland, the council tax bands are:

• Band A - property value up to £27,000
• Band B - property value over £27,000 and up to £35,000
• Band C - property value over £35,000 and up to £45,000
• Band D - property value over £45,000 and up to £58,000
• Band E - property value over £58,000 and up to £80,000
• Band F - property value over £80,000 and up to £106,000
• Band G - property value over £106,000 and up to £212,000
• Band H - property value Over £212,000.

However, Mr Lewis suggested only making a claim if your property passes both the neighbour and the valuation checks.

If you’d like to make a claim, check if your local council has an online claim form via a Google search, or simply call or email your local council.