Grab your share of £52m council tax refunds before bills rise by 5% this month

FIGHT back against cost of living increases by claiming a refund on your council tax.

On average, annual bills from local authorities jumped by up to five per cent, or £65, this month.

Meanwhile, thousands are still waiting for the £150 council tax rebate to reach their bank accounts.

Last year, households got back over £52million from local authorities, according to new data obtained by Sun Money.

Now Lucy Alderson reveals how you could be owed cash, from challenging your council tax band, to getting a reduction and even finding lost accounts.

Challenge your council tax band

AN estimated 40,000 homes are potentially in the wrong council tax band, according to MoneySavingExpert.

Council tax bands are based on how much your property was worth on April 1, 1991 for England and Scotland and April 1, 2003 for Wales.

Find out what band your neighbours with similar sized properties are on.

Challenge your band by contacting the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales or Scottish Assessors Association in Scotland.

If you’re moved to a lower band you will get a refund going back to the date you moved into the property.

But be warned — the VOA might find that you are in a lower band than you should be and you could end up paying more.

Get a reduction

YOU may be able to get a council tax bill reduction if you’re on a low income, live alone or claim benefits.

For example, single people get 25 per cent off bills.

Check with your local council. You will need to have information on your financial situation to hand.

Find lost cash

MILLIONS of pounds in overpaid council tax bills is owed back to households.

A whopping £33.7million is sitting in closed or dormant council tax accounts, according to data analysed by The Sun.

The highest amount owed is £27,150 to one household from St Albans.

In total that city’s council has £484,362 in residents’ forgotten cash.

We surveyed 58 councils and found the average owed was £6,160.

The money is lost when an account in credit is closed, either because the resident moves address or dies.

Martyn James, from complaint handling service Resolver, said: “It’s a scandal that money is sat around unclaimed at a time when every penny counts. Councils should do much more to ensure that people are reunited with their own cash.”

You should contact your council if you think you are owed money.

Help with debts

HARD-UP households could have debt cut or wiped if they are really struggling.

Households have to fill out an application form known as a Section 13A.

Nearly £2.7million was scrapped by local authorities in 2020/21.

The highest amount was by Sheffield City Council which cleared £3,210 in debt for one family.

Councils will give you a decision within 14 days of sending off your application form.

‘Check band rise is right’

MUM-OF-ONE Melanie Garraway saved hundreds on her council tax bill by challenging her band.

The 35-year-old accountant, who lives with her husband and son, Dexter, in Leadenham, Lincs, was told by North Kesteven District Council in January 2020 that her band would be rising from a C to an E three months later.

It meant her bill would rise from £1,652 a year to £2,330 – an increase of more than 40 per cent or £678 a year.

“We were extremely worried,” she said.

“We had a one-year-old baby at that time, so budgeting for everything was complex anyway.”

She immediately decided to challenge the decision by calling the Valuation Office Agency.

“I looked online at properties down our street to see what their council tax band was, and if mine was higher,” Melanie said.

“Every other property on our street was either in band C or D.

“As there’s not much difference between our house and our neighbours’, I couldn’t see why ours was so high.”

The VOA told Melanie that her property was listed as being 234sq meters in size, but Melanie knew this was incorrect.

She checked the measurements in an old sales brochure for her house and it was listed at 136sq meters.

The VOA reassessed the council tax band again and moved the property down to a band D.

This meant her bill rose by £254 but Melanie was pleased that she had saved £424.

She said: “With bills going up like energy, electric, it makes a big difference.

"You can live more comfortably, you don’t have to worry about the bill.”

Make most of energy assistance

STRUGGLING householders are being urged to apply for energy bill help as soon as possible.

Providers are offering grants to those who are vulnerable, on low incomes or behind on bills.

EDF has added another £5million to its hardship fund, while Octopus doubled its support fund.

But demand is high and some providers, including Ovo Energy, have closed their schemes after reaching capacity.

Sue Anderson of debt charity StepChange says: “If you are struggling with energy costs, talk to your supplier and consider applying for support funds. Some companies have funds for their own customers.

“Others are open to anyone who is struggling.” How to apply varies between providers.

Octopus said there was no specific criteria for customers to qualify for a grant from its Octo Assist Fund.

To apply, you complete an online form with details about your finances. So far, 36,000 customers have had a grant.

To get help from EDF, customers must complete an online form.

EDF said funding is given on a case-by-case basis and customers should continue to pay their bill while their application for help is processed.

British Gas, meanwhile, is offering grants of up to £750 to its customers – subject to certain criteria.

You will NOT qualify for help if you have more than £1,000 in savings, for instance.

To get assistance, you must be in, or facing, fuel poverty.

And help is still available elsewhere, points out StepChange’s Sue Anderson.

She says: “If you need more extensive support with debt on your wider finances, advice charities like StepChange can help.”

Starting this month, thousands of households have received a council tax rebate worth £150 to help ease the pain as bills surge.

Energy customers will get a £200 refund on their bills in October, too.

You could also get help from the Government’s £1billion Household Support Fund.

Local councils have been given money from a central pot to dish out to residents in their area. It is up to each local authority to decide what help it will give and who will qualify.

To find out if you are eligible, get in touch with your local council.