HOW would you feel if your neighbour, living in an identical house, was paying £350 less in council tax a year?

That is the situation facing residents in an Oxford street who have discovered they are in three different council tax bands despite living in the same sized homes.

Last night, a Government agency confirmed it was investigating why more than 30 houses in Mortimer Road, Rose Hill, have been put in different tax bands.

The bill – for council, police and fire services – is set according to the value of homes by the Valuation Office Agency, which is now investigating.

Mortimer Road resident Samantha Curran said she was stunned to discover she was paying about £350 more a year than Lorna Skelcher, who lives over the road.

The mother-of-two said she was shocked to glimpse Mrs Skelcher’s £1,050 Band A bill on her neighbour’s kitchen table.

Ms Curran pays £1,400 a year as her property is in Band C.

She said: “I asked her what she was paying and was shocked to find out it was much less than me.

“Why? Our houses are exactly the same and in the same location.

“I then discovered all the houses along the road are on either an A, B or C band.”

Mrs Skelcher, 44, said: “To me it seems very unfair. I don’t understand why, if we are in the same house, some people should be paying so much more.”

And neighbour David Lanighan’s home is Band B.

He said: “I think everyone should be paying the same, and I think even we are on too high a band.

“I will be querying it again.”

Along Mortimer Road, there are 22 properties classed as Band C, 18 as Band B, and three as Band A.

The post-war prefabricated homes, owned by Oxford City Council, were built from 1947-48.

While some have been converted into flats, most have three bedrooms, with the option for a fourth bedroom downstairs.

Neighbouring Court Farm Road and Nowell Road houses are all Band B, with an average bill of £1,200.

Glyn Buckley, of Chancellors Estate Agents, said the Mortimer Road properties should be Band B, if not Band A.

A Valuation Office Agency spokesman said it had launched an investigation.

A spokesman added: “Once the review is completed, we will contact the council taxpayers and inform them of any changes there may be.

“The VOA has responsibility for correcting any inaccurate council tax bands when they are brought to our attention.

“If a taxpayer believes they are in the wrong band, then all they have to do is contact us, explain why they think it is incorrect and we will review the banding.“ Council tax bands, which span eight bands, were set on properties’ value on April 1 1991.

Controversy has raged over a revaluation. One was due in April 2007 but was postponed in September 2005.

Critics said this was politically motivated as the move would have pushed many homes into higher bands.

The coalition Government ruled out a revaluation in September this year.

Council tax in Wales is set at 2003 property values and these were introduced on April 1 2005.

  • Banding queries can be made by calling the VOA on 0845 602 1507