Questions
Short answers. The legal detail lives on GOV.UK and in the tribunal rules.
Is this the official band?
No. The Valuation Office Agency keeps the official list. Bandplain shows a band from a per-address lookup, cached after the first read. The sample on this site uses a stand-in list so you can try the flow. It is not a bulk download of the valuation list.
Why 1991, and why is Wales different?
England still uses open-market values at 1 April 1991. Wales was revalued. Welsh bands use values at 1 April 2003 and took effect in 2005. Wales also has a band I. The ranges are not the same.
Can my band go up?
Yes. A challenge can leave the band as it is, or move it up. If it moves up, the bill goes up. That warning is on every pack.
How do you estimate the old value?
We take later sales of similar homes in the same postcode district and index them back with the UK House Price Index, using a series that actually reaches the valuation date. For England that is usually the regional index, because local series start in 1995. The VOA does not set bands this way. Treat the figure as a rough guide.
Why not just publish the VOA list?
The Valuation Office Agency says bulk disclosure of the council tax list is unlawful. Bandplain looks up one address at a time, through a provider interface, and caches that address.
What is in the £4.99 pack?
Up to five comparable sales, the rough base-date value, text you can paste into the free GOV.UK challenge form, and a PDF. You send the form yourself.
What does £9.99 add?
A Valuation Tribunal guide, and email reminders if you enter the date on a VOA decision notice. England is usually 3 months. Wales is usually 4 months. There is no reminder until you have a decision, because there is no universal deadline for a band you have always had.
Do I have a right to appeal?
Not always. A proposal is a formal challenge with a route to the tribunal if you disagree with the decision. A band review does not give you that appeal. The guide in the £9.99 pack explains the difference, and so does the FAQ on GOV.UK.
What do claims firms charge?
Often 25–40% of any refund, and sometimes a fee even if the band does not change. Read the contract. The challenge itself is free.
Will you refund me if the band does not change?
No. The fee is for the pack, not for an outcome. If we cannot show you the pack or the PDF, contact us and we will refund the fee.
Do you cover Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. Scotland uses the Scottish Assessors. Northern Ireland uses a different system.
Do you use EPC floor area?
No. Address fields in the EPC open data are licensed only for energy-performance purposes, not for a council tax product. You can still tell us the property type and the number of bedrooms.