Elderly neighbours in Caversham are pushing for council tax justice as they pay over £1,000 more than they believe they should.
Malcolm Geater lives with his wife Cecilia, both 89, at their retirement home in Lyefield Court, Emmer Green.
Properties in Lyefield Court were previously band C, but were increased to band F – the third highest tax band- back in February 1995.
Responsibility for council tax banding lies with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), with an appeal against the change made in 2008 proving unsuccessful.
It means that all 39 properties in Lyefield Court & The Conifers must pay £3,419.68 in council tax this year.
Meanwhile people in band C pay £2,104.42 – meaning residents are paying £1,315.26 more than they believe they should be.
Mr Geater said: “We’ve got one and a half bedrooms, a small kitchen and bathroom, a lounge and a dining room, and we’re F, for a flat.”
They’ve argued that their top-floor retirement apartment does not compare to typical band F properties, which have more bedrooms and could be semi-detached or detached.
Mrs Geater said: “There’s no comparison. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Tom Dyer, a director of Farmer & Dyer estate agents, agreed, adding that the high banding has had an impact on sales.
Mr Dyer said: “It has a smaller effect on it because the council tax is remarkably high, it’s just not in relation to everything else around.
“I’m selling detached houses and big three-bed semis with lower tax bands than that.
“It’s just so antiquated, we are talking two-bed flats.”
Mr Geater added: “There are places up in Caversham Heights that have four beds with land, it just doesn’t make sense. It’s all wrong.”
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Along with the higher tax, which funds the council, police and fire service, residents of Lyefield Court & The Conifers pay a private service charge to Cognatum Estates, for the upkeep of a private road, maintenance and groundskeeping.
The Geater’s had received help from Simon Robinson, the Conservative councillor for Emmer Green, who lost his seat to Labour challenger Daya Pal Singh.
They have also appealed their case to Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has called on the VOA to visit Lyefield Court & The Conifers to conduct a re-assessment.
In response, a VOA spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on individual cases.
“We carefully consider various factors including a property’s size, character and location when determining the appropriate Council Tax band.
“Each valuation depends on the facts of the individual case.
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“If someone thinks their Council Tax band is wrong, they may be able to challenge it.
“More information on the challenge process is available on GOV.UK.
“During a challenge, we use information from a wide range of sources. This means in most cases we can reach a decision without the need to inspect a property.”
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