Council Tax Appeals
I am a direct access barrister who undertakes Valuation Tribunal and Council Tax work. In this age of austerity-riddled councils seeking to obtain Council Tax arrears from tenants and landlords (which can often amount to several thousand or tens of thousands of pounds) it is critical that you get the right advice in this field. Councils and Billing Authorities will and do enforce Council Tax debt through the courts including via bankruptcy orders and charging orders.
Council Tax law can be difficult to understand being a species of tax law. It is important that you get advice on whether to pursue a Council Tax matter through the Valuation Tribunal. I can help you with representation at the Tribunal, evidence gathering and any other legal difficulties you might be facing in relation to your Council Tax matter. I can also represent you at Valuation Tribunals and draft correspondence and statements on your behalf.
Very often good early advice can save a large amount of time and effort in this complex field. I travel the length of the county and can arrange meetings to be had by phone, video conference or at my offices in Central London.
My fees are usually fixed (see below) without the overheads of a solicitor’s office with my work undertaken via the Bar Council direct access scheme whereby you can come direct to a barrister./
Council Tax Appeals
I undertake Valuation Tribunal and Council Tax work. In this age of austerity-riddled councils seeking to obtain Council Tax arrears from tenants and landlords (which can often amount to several thousand or tens of thousands of pounds) it is critical that you get the right advice in this field. Councils and Billing Authorities will and do enforce Council Tax debt through the courts including via bankruptcy orders and charging orders.
Council Tax law can be difficult to understand being a species of tax law. It is important that you get advice on whether to pursue a Council Tax matter through the Valuation Tribunal. I can help you with representation at the Tribunal, evidence gathering and any other legal difficulties you might be facing in relation to your Council Tax matter. I can also represent you at Valuation Tribunals and draft correspondence and statements on your behalf.
Very often good early advice can save a large amount of time and effort in this complex field. I travel the length of the county and can arrange meetings to be had by phone, video conference or at my offices in Central London.
My fees are usually fixed (see below) without the overheads of a solicitor’s office with my work undertaken via the Bar Council direct access scheme whereby you can come direct to a barrister.
Council Tax Appeals
I undertake Valuation Tribunal and Council Tax work. In this age of austerity-riddled councils seeking to obtain Council Tax arrears from tenants and landlords (which can often amount to several thousand or tens of thousands of pounds) it is critical that you get the right advice in this field. Councils and Billing Authorities will and do enforce Council Tax debt through the courts including via bankruptcy orders and charging orders.
Council Tax law can be difficult to understand being a species of tax law. It is important that you get advice on whether to pursue a Council Tax matter through the Valuation Tribunal. I can help you with representation at the Tribunal, evidence gathering and any other legal difficulties you might be facing in relation to your Council Tax matter. I can also represent you at Valuation Tribunals and draft correspondence and statements on your behalf.
Very often good early advice can save a large amount of time and effort in this complex field. I travel the length of the county and can arrange meetings to be had by phone, video conference or at my offices in Central London.
My fees are usually fixed (see below) without the overheads of a solicitor’s office with my work undertaken via the Bar Council direct access scheme whereby you can come direct to a barrister.
Julian is an absolute legend and I recommend him highly for any local authority disputes. In a world where some revenue teams rely on bullying and intimidation as their modus operandi, Julian and his team are a force to be reckoned with in determining facts, conveying an argument and ultimately ensuring that justice is done. Thanks Julian for your recent help, after a 5 year slog - 2 months with you on the case enabled a swift resolution.
After 4 years of council tax pain that accumulated 20k+ of council tax bills due to double charges for our property being empty for more than 12 months. We finally found Julian who quickly turned this situation around for us and successfully had the property deleted from the council tax listings due to the fact that we could show the property was un-inhabitable. Thanks Julian we are so grateful ! what a headache this has been for over 4 years, with your help, common sense and fairness has prevailed !
Questions
Do I need to pay back the Council Tax arrears now?
Councils will normally require that monies are paid back before the Valuation Tribunal Hearing. You will then get a credit should you win at the Valuation Tribunal. Some Councils will simply put a charge in your property which is removed if you win at the Valuation Tribunal
Do I come within a CT exemption?
Contact me for advice. Some exemptions are easier to understand than others. One of the most common issues I face nowadays is whether a property is a House in Multiple Occupation or not and whether the owner is the liable party. There are also issues over whether a home is truly a derelict and whether a person obtaining probate is liable. These are just some of the issues faced in this area of law.
Questions
Do I need to pay back the Council Tax arrears now?
Councils will normally require that monies are paid back before the Valuation Tribunal Hearing. You will then get a credit should you win at the Valuation Tribunal. Some Councils will simply put a charge in your property which is removed if you win at the Valuation Tribunal
Do I come within a CT exemption?
Contact me for advice. Some exemptions are easier to understand than others. One of the most common issues I face nowadays is whether a property is a House in Multiple Occupation or not and whether the owner is the liable party. There are also issues over whether a home is truly a derelict and whether a person obtaining probate is liable. These are just some of the issues faced in this area of law.
Questions
Do I need to pay back the Council Tax arrears now?
Councils will normally require that monies are paid back before the Valuation Tribunal Hearing. You will then get a credit should you win at the Valuation Tribunal. Some Councils will simply put a charge in your property which is removed if you win at the Valuation Tribunal
Do I come within a CT exemption?
Contact me for advice. Some exemptions are easier to understand than others. One of the most common issues I face nowadays is whether a property is a House in Multiple Occupation or not and whether the owner is the liable party. There are also issues over whether a home is truly a derelict and whether a person obtaining probate is liable. These are just some of the issues faced in this area of law.
Can I contest Liability Orders in the Magistrates’ Court?
Valuation Tribunals deal with the substance of the argument as to whether the individual is the liable party. There are very limited grounds for contesting the issuance of the Liability Orders in the Magistrates’ Court. It is an area fraught with difficulties. Note there are cost consequences if you lose.
Are their time limits for appeals?
Yes! It is important not to miss time limits once you have appealed the CT liability to the Council.
Do I need to pay costs if I lose at the Valuation Tribunal
No. The Valuation Tribunal does not award costs for or against a party in Council Tax cases. If you lose you don’t end up paying your costs and the other side’s costs. If you win, the Council don’t pay your costs.
My property is uninhabitable. Do I need to pay Council Tax?
Sometimes a property can be removed from the list. In general a property will need to be truly derelict and this can be a high threshold to get across. I will advise on this.
Representation
Do I need to pay back the Council Tax arrears now?
Councils will normally require that monies are paid back before the VT. You will then get a credit should you win at the Valuation Tribunal. Some Councils will simply put a charge in your property to be taken off if you win at the Valuation Tribunal
Do I come within a CT exemption?
Contact me for advice. Some exemptions are easier to understand than others. One of the most common issues I face nowadays is whether a property is a House in Multiple Occupation or not and whether the owner is the liable party. There are also issues over whether a home is truly a derelict and whether a person obtaining probate is liable. These are just some of the issues faced in this area of law.
Regulatory Information
Notable Cases
Reported Local Taxation Cases in Rating and Valuation Reporter (Consulting editor Lord Carnwath CVO).
These area cases of complexity or of significance deemed sufficient to report in the RVR.
Diamond Care (UK) 2 Ltd and another v North Norfolk District Council (Council Tax – Care Home Closed And In Serious Disrepair)– [2023] RVR 73
EJS and NJH v Richmondshire District Council (Council Tax – Exemption from Empty Property Premium) [2023] RVR 76
Fees
Our pricing varies. Our fees are fixed fees and we undertake a conference with you initially to understand your case and then decide on the way forward giving you advice as to whether you have a case or not.
Fees thereafter depending on whether a simple liability or complex banding case involving multiple properties with many tens or hundreds of thousands of thousands of pounds at stake.
I now undertake Council Tax Plus Service which involves a fixed fee conference and reading of your papers to let you know precisely where you stand, whether you have any appeal with merits, and if so what you should do in relation to your appeal or issue with a note afterwards setting out the issues and what you should do. This takes place as a fixed fee conference by Zoom or in person from £475 to £625 plus VAT.
The conference takes as long as necessary and if it involves further research or reflection and then a second meeting it will still come within the fixed fee.
I need such a conference in all cases to properly advise. I am not able to just give general advice or generic assistance. This is a species of tax law and must be done properly, initially via a conference. Clients benefit from this as it sets out the tax advice. I advise on cases ranging from a few thousand pounds of tax to hundreds of thousands of pounds of tax owing.
Contact
The Chambers of Julian Hunt
2a Lydden Grove
London SW18 4LL
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS FROM 22nd August 2021
T 02030720055
M 07817772382
Please do not send me papers and documents before contacting me. Invariably I will after speaking to you send you a client care letter, ask for your papers and then arrange our meeting following receipt of funds. I do ten to twenty cases a month so can’t work on cases until in funds. I am happy to travel for an additional supplement. You will get a note after our meeting. I can advise by phone, email, video conference or in person. I can represent you at hearings anywhere in England and Wales.
I have another housing website at https://housing-act-prosecution-defence-barrister.co.uk which sets out some of my background. I also have another website at www.julianrhunt.co.uk focusing on my other areas of law and a little bit more about my background.
I have had some rather nice Google reviews as well which you can read on my Google business page.
You can also buy my HMO Housing Law book at http://www.lawbriefpublishing.com/product/thelawofhmos/
