In Merseyside, nearly 300 households have managed to lower their council tax bills through appeals, but it’s a decision that comes with some risks.
You can reach out to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to check if your band is correct. They’ll look into it and let you know what’s what. Just keep in mind, your band could go up or down, so think it through before you make a move.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, there were 1,160 appeals in Merseyside. About half of those didn’t change, but 280 households got their bills reduced. Most of the successful appeals came from Liverpool, with 80 households benefiting. Sefton had 70, Wirral 60, Knowsley 40, and St. Helens 30.
Across England and Wales, nearly 44,000 households appealed last year, and about 10,530 were successful. But not everyone had good news; 30 households actually saw their bands go up.
Some areas had better luck than others. In places like Rossendale and Rushmoor, 67% of appeals led to reductions. Meanwhile, in Hounslow, only 5% were successful. It’s a mixed bag out there!
