UKC

Just about ready to move into our new abode when a letter plops onto the mat, (OK, onto the tiled floor), from the nice chaps at the Valuation Office Agency.

Since our property has been extended since the council tax came in 1993, it seems a little re-valuation is in order. Since I trust this valuation about as much as, well, a valuation intended to extract as much money from me as possible, a little research is in order.

The on-line stuff goes back to 2000, but I really need to find a comparable property price from 1991. I'm resigned to paying for this, but any pointers on where to start would be welcome.

Cheers in advance

Ridge

In reply to Ridge: try money saving expert.com it MIGHT have the answer.

In reply to Ridge:

Upmystreet.com

seem to remember that if you sign up you can find the most recent selling price for houses in your (or any street) prob best bet - just look for a sale in 1991

In reply to Ridge: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=historical+house+prices+area&...

In reply to rich:

Cheers Rich. I had googled , but all these sites pull up an average for 'the North West' which isn't accurate, or a 'calculator' which works out the 1991 price based on what today's price is. (I bet this is what VOA use).

These give a price of around £85k for my property, which is way overvalued for the back of beyond in West Cumbria. (Detached in my area were going for £38k to £50k in 2001, let alone 1991).

In reply to Ridge: oh right - it looked quite good too - if it's a sort of legal thing i guess it would be worth investing a bob or two - alternatively if you phoned a local agent would they be able to tell you?

knock on the neighbours doors and ask when they moved in and if they'd mind telling you?

<runs out of ideas>

In reply to rich:

Don't mind spending a bob or two, but I don't want to fork ot for some internet search and et something useless. Estate Agents might be worth a try.


That's the plan at present. There's a few established families who might know.


Me too. I never knew that the vultures descended so quickly when you buy a house!

In reply to Ridge: visit to the local library & look at the old local newspapers ?

In reply to Ridge:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change

this might help

In reply to Ridge:

A Friday morning bump...

In reply to Ridge:

Granny suck eggs time, but have you looked at your own title deeds closely? Your property might have changed hands around the time you mention, and the purchase price would be recorded.

The best idea otherwise is, as mentioned, to visit the local library, look at the property pages of 1991 papers, and when you find a similar house, either visit the house and ask the purchase price, or request a copy of the title from the land registry (you can do this online.)

In reply to Ridge: I am a Chartered Surveyor and from time to time have to prepare valuations for tax purposes as at 31st March 1982. The only way that I can do this is to book a slot at the local Library to go through back issues of the property section of the local paper. Our local library keeps them all on Microfiche which tends to make me feel travel sick using the sliding machine but it does give the required figures!

Have fun.

Rob

In reply to Ridge:

Someones already told you up my street!!!

http://www.upmystreet.com/enter-location/property/prices/l/

There you go - does that make it any easier for you???

In reply to tlm: That only goes back to 2002 as it relies on the Land Registry online database.

In reply to tlm:

No, because as pointed out several times before, that only goes back to when the Land Registry database was created in 2002. It's 1991 I'm after!!!!! (enough '!'s for you?)

In reply to Ridge:

Heh heh! I do love my exclaimation marks!

In reply to hutchm and Rob:

Done the deeds thing, that gives purchase price a few years prior to that, but the re-valuation is due to alterations made after purchase. I actually need to find a similar 3 bedroom detached in my area and find what it was worth in 1991, so I'll have to knock on a few doors. (Given the area I live in that'll either mean I'll be kidnapped for my fresh DNA or shot for beign 'foreign'..)


That seems the best bet, and Rob's suggestion about the Estate Agents section sounds good.

In reply to Ridge: have you tried BCIS.co.uk
its a profession building pricing program but can be a little complicated.

In reply to tlm:

Have some more on me !!!!!!!!!!

In reply to moffatdave28:

Cheers. Could I get historical pricing from that? Looks to be more of a rebuilding cost calculator, but worth a look. Thanks for the link.

In reply to Ridge: Can you not look out for a similar property in the area and then search for that in the Valuations Agency d/b? No guarantee that the house you pick won't also have been extended since 1991 though!

In reply to MJH:

I can't seem to find a way of accessing the VOA database, do you have a link?

In reply to Ridge: Try googling "Council tax valuation list" website is WWW.voa.gov/council_tax/cti_home.htm

In reply to Ridge: The Valuation Office has nothing to gain from over valuing your property. It's a seperate Government Agency. Have you actually spoken to them yet and asked if they could give you details of any sales they are using to support the new valuation? There was also some stuff on watchdog on how check your banding. If you are not happy you can appeal against the banding.