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Martin Lewis Urges Council Tax Band Checks as April Rises Loom

Up to 400,000 homes may be over-banded, with successful challenges yielding backdated payouts worth thousands.

Overview

  • Lewis is renewing his two-step Check and Challenge push: compare your band with similar nearby homes, then estimate your property’s 1991 value before seeking a reassessment.
  • Official routes are the Valuation Office Agency for England and Wales and the Scottish Assessors Association for Scotland, with any reassessment able to move bands up or down.
  • A viewer on his ITV show reported nearly £6,000 back after a band drop from D to C, and Lewis says successful cases often reach £10,000 to £12,000.
  • VOA data show 43,820 revaluation requests in the latest period, with nearly 1,000 homes lowered by two bands or more, while MoneySavingExpert estimates councils hold about £141m in overpaid tax affecting 800,000+ households.
  • The guidance comes as bills are set to rise from April, with a 5% cap in England but not in Scotland and several London councils permitted to exceed the cap, though some have signalled restraint for 2026/27.