Sir, Contrary to the views of your correspondents (letters, Nov 21), staff of the Valuation Office Agency have no powers of internal inspection when valuing homes for council tax banding purposes.

Internal inspections are very rare and occur only when a taxpayer is appealing against their property’s banding. Even then, the householder has complete discretion to limit an inspection or refuse it altogether. It would also be extremely rare for photographs to be taken internally, and this would not be done without the owner’s express permission.

To suggest that officials have the right to enter homes, and to take photographs of private possessions is ill-informed scaremongering.

Scenic views or structural improvements will have a bearing on council tax banding only if they affect its overall value. This has been the case since council tax was introduced in 1993.

GERALDINE O’CONNELL
National Secretary,
Prospect union
London SE1

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