Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Valuation Office Agency on its policy not to review the council tax bandings of multiple properties in one request.

Council Tax legislation only allows for a formal challenge of multiple properties in exceptional and very specific circumstances, as set in the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009.

If the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) finds or is alerted to information that suggests that the Council Tax List may be wrong, it will investigate and make corrections if necessary. Once a decision has been made to alter a property’s Council Tax band, the VOA have a duty to consider whether that decision should be applied to other similar properties in the locality and will take appropriate action as necessary.

The VOA is unable to disclose the outcome of any subsequent reviews of neighbouring properties, due to its strict duty to taxpayer confidentiality under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act.