TL;DR: Too long, Didn’t read
The Error: Council Tax bands were set in 1991 using “drive-by” valuations. Up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong band.
The Risk: Challenging blindly is dangerous. If you are wrong, the council might raise your neighbours’ bills instead of lowering yours.
The Solution: You must pass the “2-Step Check” (Neighbours + 1991 Value) before you contact the Valuation Office.
The Tool: Use our Safety Checker below to see if you have a valid case in under a minute.
You might be paying hundreds of pounds too much every year for your Council Tax.
When the current system was launched in 1991, the government had very little time to value every property in the country. Valuers often didn’t even get out of their cars—they did “second-gear valuations,” guessing the value of a house by glancing at it from the street.
If they guessed wrong back then, you have been overpaying ever since.
However, you must be careful.
If you challenge your band incorrectly, you cannot just “cancel” the request. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has the legal right to investigate your entire street. If they decide you are right—but that your neighbours are paying too little—they will raise your neighbours’ bills.
Use our free Safety Checker below to find out if you are safe to proceed.
Council Tax Checker
Can you lower your band without risking a bill hike?
If you challenge now, the council will likely raise their bills rather than lower yours.
Scroll down to learn how to check this.
Scroll down for the application link.
The “Neighbour Trap” (Why You Need 2 Checks)
The biggest mistake people make is challenging their band solely because “My neighbour pays less than me.”
This is dangerous. If you tell the Council that your identical neighbour is in Band B while you are in Band C, they might investigate and decide you are right—and move your neighbour up to Band C.
To succeed safely, you must pass The Golden Rule. You need two pieces of evidence:
The Neighbours Check: Similar houses are in a lower band.
The Valuation Check: Your house’s value in 1991 was low enough to be in that lower band.
You need both. If you have both, the council cannot easily raise your neighbours’ bills; the evidence forces them to lower yours.
Step 1: The Neighbours Check
This is the easy part. You need to see what band your neighbours are in. This is public record.
Go to the official GOV.UK Council Tax band checker.
Enter your postcode.
Look for properties that are identical or very similar to yours (same size, same age, same style).
The Goal: If you are in Band D, but your identical neighbours are in Band C, you have passed Step 1.
Note: If you have extended your house significantly since 1991 (e.g., added a conservatory or loft conversion), this might not work, as improvements can move you up a band.
Step 2: The Valuation Check (Crucial)
This is the safety net. Council tax bands in England are still based on what a property was worth on 1st April 1991.
To win your case, you must prove your home was worth less than the threshold for your current band back in 1991.
How to calculate it:
Find the price your house (or a similar one) sold for recently. (You can check Rightmove or Zoopla sold prices).
Use the Nationwide House Price Calculator.
Enter your purchase price and date.
Set the “Valuation Date” to Q2 1991.
The calculator will give you an estimated 1991 value.
Compare your 1991 result against this table:
| Band | 1991 Value (England) |
| A | Up to £40,000 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 |
| H | Over £320,000 |
Example: You are in Band D. The table says Band D starts at £68,000. If your calculator result says your home was worth £65,000 in 1991, you should be in Band C.
Free Template: The “Evidence Script”
When you fill out the challenge form (in Step 3 below), you will be asked to provide evidence. Do not just say “It’s too expensive.”
Copy and paste this script into the “Evidence” or “Reason for Challenge” box to sound professional and legally accurate.
(Note: Replace the bracketed text with your specific details).
Reason for Challenge: Incorrect Banding based on Comparable Properties and 1991 Value
I am challenging the Council Tax banding of my property [Your Address] on the basis that it is inconsistent with similar properties in the immediate vicinity and its historical valuation.
Evidence 1: Comparable Properties The following properties are identical/highly similar to mine in size, age, and style, yet are situated in a lower band (Band [X]):
[Neighbour Address 1] – (Band [X])
[Neighbour Address 2] – (Band [X])
Evidence 2: 1991 Valuation Check I have calculated the estimated value of my property as of 1st April 1991 using the Nationwide House Price Index.
Purchase Price: £[Price] on [Date]
Estimated 1991 Value: £[Value]
This 1991 value falls clearly within the threshold for Band [X] (which covers values up to £[Limit]), rather than my current Band [Y].
On this basis, I request a review of the banding to align it with the correct valuation.
Step 3: How to Challenge
If you passed the checks and have your evidence ready, you can now submit a formal challenge.
Go to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website.
Select “Check and challenge your council tax band.”
Fill in the details and paste your evidence script when prompted.
Warning: Do not use companies that charge a fee. You do not need a solicitor or a “Council Tax claim firm” to do this. They will take a huge cut (often 30%+) of your refund. The process is free to do yourself via the government website.
(Sources: Gov.uk – Check your band, Nationwide – House Price Index, MoneySavingExpert – Council Tax Reclaiming Logic)
We are not financial advisors. This tool provides an estimate based on standard valuation rules. The Valuation Office Agency makes the final decision. Challenging your band always carries a small risk that bands in your area could be reviewed.
