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Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax Decision : Closed after initial enquiries Decision date : 23 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax premium because the matter was appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.
The complaint
Ms X complains that the cl unreasonably imposed a Council tax premium on her property.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended) The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Ms X says that the Council imposed a Council tax premium on her property despite the evidence she provided. The Council says that it needed information form her to determine the liability.
Ms X appealed successfully to the Valuation Tribunal.
The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint because the dispute was appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman