UK homeowners urged to check their council tax band as half 'get it lowered'

UK homeowners urged to check their council tax band as half 'get it lowered' People could be in the wrong band, and there is a free tool to check People may be paying the wrong amount of council tax for their property due to an outdated system which is decades old. Carrying out a few simple checks could help some households cut costs - though there is a chance others might end up paying more. In a post on Instagram, consumer group Which? said: "Our Which? survey found that more than half (54%) of people who challenged their council tax band successfully got it lowered." It added: "Your council tax band is based on what your home was worth all the way back in 1991. That's the same year that Terminator 2 came out, and that valuation has barely changed since." Council tax operates differently depending on your location. For instance, Wales introduced fresh valuations in 2003, while Scotland has its own separate system. In England, the majority of properties still rely on the original 1991 price bands - meaning some homes could be paying more or less than neighbours living in identical houses. Councils assign properties to 'bands', and most people have no clue whether their home sits in the correct category, reports the Express. How to check if your tax is correct in the first place Which? said people should begin their checks on the GOV.UK website and compare their own property against neighbouring homes. The expert said: "If your home is similar in size, age and location, you should probably be in the same band." It's also worthwhile examining what comparable properties on your road have recently sold for. The Which? team said: "Use a house price calculator to estimate what that would have been worth back in 1991." Why checking your band could backfire Contesting your council tax band is no guarantee of saving money. In certain cases, it could actually result in both you and your neighbours paying more each month. Which? said: "If you've been in the wrong band for years, you could get a refund for what you overpaid, backdated to when you moved in. In fact, our survey found that more than half of the people who challenged their band successfully got it lowered, while only 1% saw an increase." Martin Lewis has a full guide on his MoneySavingExpert website here for more help and advice about the process. Martin has been campaigning for people to check and challenge the system since 2007. You can challenge your band through the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales, or the Scottish Assessors' Association in Scotland. You can check and challenge your band completely for free directly through the official government channels - linked here. You can challenge someone’s council tax band for them if they’ve appointed you as their ‘representative’ in an Authority to act form. You then need to fill in a Council Tax challenge form on their behalf - you cannot use the online service. The Valuation Office (VO) will confirm they’ve got your challenge. This is usually within a few days, but can sometimes take up to 28 days. They’ll review your challenge and make a decision. GOV.UK claims that this can take up to four months. If the VO needs more information, they’ll contact you.