Council tax

[cjpfisheries]

I fitted a kitchen in the annex of my house, now the council have given it a separate banding. This annex has 5 rooms, which are now lost to my "main house" so how can my banding remain the same? The annex does not have separate gas/water/electric meters and is reached through a door in my dining room as well as having it's own front door. (which was a back door entrance for me) This is now forcing me to have a permanent lodger (likely a stranger), a bit over the top I know but surely this infringes my human rights. In would be grateful if anyone can help. Thanks in advance.

[bednobs]

which human right do you believe it infringes CJP?

[bednobs]

have you applied to have the main house re-bnded?

[cjpfisheries]

Any human rights, everyone else seems to use this one! I said it was over the top and grasping at straws really.
No I did not apply for this, a little man from the council, on a mobylette just arrived and asked if I had anyone else in the house. As I live on my own and had just let my son's friend stay in the annex short term I didn't think I had a major problem. I wish I didn't help him out now as it has caused me a lot of grief.

[factor-fiction]

I think you are saying the house has effeectively been split into two parts (all in your grounds) and you are now paying a lot more council tax.
Please can you clarify this by telling us:

What was the original band of your original house? (And when was it assessesed- have you had extensions since it was last assessed but before the kitchen was fitted?)
What is the new band (maybe it's the same) for the house now that some rooms have been lost from it
What is the band of the second property?

[bednobs]

if your main home is now significantly smaller, i think you can apply to have it rebanded. you have effectively split your house into 2 seperate dwellings, which is why both are attracting council tax. You are on a hiding to nothing with human rights i'm afraid

[cjpfisheries]

Thanks a lot for that, the mobylette man did seem to think that I would have my house band lowered, but the lady from Income (who visited me about my rebanding) said he shouldn't have said that!!

[buildersmate]

This handy leaflet explains it all - including the rules for a self-contained unit.
http://www.voa.gov.uk..._understanding_ct.pdf
The issues that have blown it for you are:
the separate front-door
the facility for cooking (kitchen)
and I assume it has its own loo
I assume the annex has been given a Band A rating.
Your existing property will not necessarily have lost enough in assessed value to take it below the next threshold down - but it is worth a try.
If your existing dwelling is band F or G it is less likely to fall down a band than if it is Band D or E (because the width of the bands is much greater towards the top end).
The leaflet also explains

[cjpfisheries]

Thanks a lot for your answers, looks like I'll be ripping out the kitchen when my lodgers gone!!

[cjpfisheries]

For Factor 30.The house is band G, the extension was here when I moved in, although my son fitted a kitchen. The band for the annex is A and mine is still g. I don't know when it was last assessed, but the planning permission for the extension was passed in 2001. The house and annex are all one building, in my neighbours house she has a bedroom and bathroom there, so I have 2 extra rooms and a cloakroom.

[factor-fiction]

Thanks for clarifying that. I can't add anything to the advice and information buildersmate has given.
What may have happened is that as previous capacity was added to the house the property remained in band G. Now parts of the property have been excluded it seems the residual is still considered band G.

Whilst it seems you had to take a lodger to help pay for the extra council tax I'm not quite sure of the reason for putting in the extra kitchen and front door. Which came first: the lodger or the kitchen?

[Jillius]

My mate had an annex built but was reassured it would only be rebanded when she sold it, eg: that the new owner would have to pay the new council tax band. This was about 8 years ago and they have been true to their word.

[cjpfisheries]

Factor 30- I put the kitchen in, I have several relatives in Jersey and told them they are welcome to come - but I don't cook!! The door to the annex was already there when I moved in.

[bushbaby_de]

Reading this post I'm a bit concerned you will have another council-related problem coming your way - do you actually have planning permission for a separate unit annexed to your house? Planning permission for an extension does not allow you to rent it out separately. You either need to apply for retrospective planning permission or stop renting it out.