Living by a turbine may affect council tax  

Credit:  North Devon Journal | www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk 2 August 2012 ~~

Living near a wind turbine could reduce your council tax bill, it has been confirmed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

Some properties live near enough to a turbine that the value of their property is reduced significantly. This in turn means the property drops to a lower council tax band saving some home owners hundreds of pounds a year.

The VOA place the property in a band dependent on how much it would have been worth in 1991 in England or 2003 in Wales.

A spokesperson from the VOA said: “VOA is responsible for keeping council tax bands up to date in England and Wales. We do not record the number of occasions where a band challenge is made by a taxpayer due to the proximity of a turbine or wind farm.

“If a taxpayer believes that the value of their home has been reduced by a substantial physical change to their locality, then they may be entitled to make a proposal to alter their band.

“The proposal will be considered by the VOA, which may or may not result in a band change. If the taxpayer disagrees with the decision of the VOA, there is a right of appeal to an independent Valuation Tribunal.”

The VOA was unable to confirm whether there had been a rise in the number of council tax bands being decreased in North Devon.