A pensioner is getting a seasonal windfall thanks to a 33-year-old administrative error which led to him paying too much council tax.
Now the district valuation office, which wrongly registered Bill Hipsey's modest semi as a band E house, has apologised, re-registered his home as a band D, and is arranging a full refund for the extra money paid since the tax was introduced in 1993.
Whatever the undisclosed amount, Maldon district's council taxpayers must pick up the tab, because although the Colchester valuation office was responsible, the cash must be refunded from the district coffers.
Andrew Claydon, chief financial services officer at Maldon District Council, revealed two-and-a-half per cent of all properties were banded incorrectly by valuation officers when the tax came into force.
Retired civil engineer Mr Hipsey, 75, believes the misinformation went on record in 1971 when he built a second storey on his semi-detached bungalow in Wick Road, Burnham, near Maldon.
Re-registered as a detached house, the error survived through the rating system, the poll tax and into council tax.
It came to light when Mr Hipsey visited Maldon District Council to complain about his £1,500 council tax bill.
Andy Mahady, spokesman for the Colchester district valuation office, said if any of Britain's 22 million properties were wrongly banded for council tax, the valuation office was required by law to put it right and the local authority was obliged to reimburse the owner.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, December 16, 2004
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