Arun council tax win gives Cyril a £1,700 refund

Cyril Potter and his wife Karen celebrate their council tax revaluation L12350H13

Mr Potter, a landscape gardener, has received almost £1,700 from Arun District Council after winning a years-long battle to have the council tax banding for his semi-detached house in Arundel Road revalued.

Having failed with previous appeals to the Valuation Office to have his home changed from Band C to B, he took up the case again after receiving a letter in the autumn from a private claims firm, suggesting he could be eligible for more than £2,700.

However, instead of using the firm’s services, he decided to make one last attempt himself – and this time was successful.

“I paid £43,000 for this house in 1996, yet a band C valuation in 1991 when they brought in the council tax was from £52-£68,000.

“I reckon there are at least another 20 houses exactly the same as mine, in Arundel Road, Palmer Road, Shardeloes Road and Lloyd Goring Close which are in too high a band. I know most of the people living in them and will be letting them know about this.

“Why should they be paying too much council tax? It’s their money and they are entitled to have it back.

“I have a lot of relatives in the village and some of them could also claim.”

A spokeswoman for Arun said: “Residents can go to the Valuation Office to appeal their council tax band, which is free of charge, or they can use a third party which makes a charge for the service. We would advise residents to ensure that these organisation are regulated and suitably qualified to carry out this work.

“Council tax was introduced in April, 1993, and the actual bandings were decided on the basis of the saleable value as at April 1, 1991. Therefore, to be successful, residents must prove that the saleable value was within a lower band than it is now.

“Residents have been successful with these appeals with refunds being backdated. However, there have also been instances where the appeal has resulted in the council tax band actually being increased which has, in turn, affected all the properties in a road.

“Arun does not make specific provision for these repayments as they are generally more than offset by additional council tax income resulting from new homes being built in the district.”