Neighbours get bigger bills after council tax complaint

DOZENS of residents have been hit by a hike in their council tax bill - because one of their neighbours complained they were paying too much.

• Scott Brodie with one of the letters telling residents that they must pay more

More than 40 households in the East Craigs area have been told that their council tax band is being changed, adding hundreds of pounds to their annual bill.

The change was the result of a complaint from a resident on Bughtlin Park.

He informed the Lothian Valuation Joint Board (LVJB) that he was paying more than his neighbours in council tax, despite living in a similar three-bedroom home.

Civil servant Scott Brodie, who lives on Bughtlin Park and is one of the residents affected by the rise in rates, has now seen his bill increase from 1526 to 1764 after his band was changed from D to E.

He said: "Thanks very much to the resident of Bughtlin Park who was involved.

"I trust you will be able to sleep at night now that you have caused around 40 residents some much-needed hardship, especially the elderly, in the run-up to the festive period.

"Lothian Valuation Joint Board initiated this change after complaints from the resident. The Board never once wrote to any of the properties involved until the end of August when a letter was received saying the extra money was due on September 1."

Mr Brodie, 46, along with several other residents, has appealed against the decision but said he was not hopeful because the rise had already been implemented.

The resident's complaint led to an investigation of council tax banding in East Craigs by surveyors, resulting in 15 properties being reduced by one band and 46 being increased.

It is understood that homes on North Bughtlinside were among some of the other properties affected by the banding changes.

Grandmother-of-four Eleanor Mickulick, who lives on Bughtlin Park, has also seen her bill rise by around 200 every year. She said: "I was annoyed because everything else is going up too. "They never bring anything down."

Mr Brodie believes residents in other parts of the city could also be hit with council tax hikes with very little - if any - previous warning.

"I would like to warn all homeowners of the potential that their property could be re-banded as regards council tax without prior notification," he said.

"As everyone will be aware, this is a nice wee earner for our councils to gather some much-needed funds during this time of recession."

LVJB assessor Joan Hewton confirmed that an inquiry was received from a council tax payer in Bughtlin Park regarding council tax banding last year.

She said: "Although the banding reviews have taken place many years after the introduction of council tax on April 1 1993, increased payments are not backdated as relevant legislation directs that a payment increase should be made from the start of the month following the council tax list being updated."

Ms Hewton added: "I am obliged by statute to correct such errors and a letter of apology was issued to each council tax-payer on August 30, together with the formal notice informing them of the change in band.

"Accordingly, the increases in payments were effective from September 1st 2010."

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