81Appeal to valuation appeal committee
(1)A person may appeal to a valuation appeal committee if he is aggrieved by—
(a)any decision of a levying authority that a dwelling is a chargeable dwelling, or that he is liable to pay council tax in respect of such a dwelling; or
(b)any calculation made by a levying authority of an amount which he is liable to pay to the authority in respect of council tax,
and the committee shall make such decision as they think just.
(2)In subsection (1) above the reference to any calculation of an amount includes a reference to any estimate of the amount.
(3)Subsection (1) above shall not apply where the grounds on which the person concerned is aggrieved fall within such category or categories as may be prescribed.
(4)No appeal may be made under subsection (1) above unless—
(a)the aggrieved person serves a written notice under this subsection; and
(b)one of the conditions mentioned in subsection (7) below is fulfilled.
(5)A notice under subsection (4) above must be served on the levying authority concerned.
(6)A notice under subsection (4) above must state the matter by which and the grounds on which the person is aggrieved.
(7)The conditions are that—
(a)the aggrieved person is notified in writing, by the authority on which he served the notice, that the authority believes the grievance is not well founded, but the person is still aggrieved;
(b)the aggrieved person is notified in writing, by the authority on which he served the notice, that steps have been taken to deal with the grievance, but the person is still aggrieved;
(c)the period of two months, beginning with the date of service of the aggrieved person’s notice, has ended without his being notified under paragraph (a) or (b) above.
(8)Where a notice under subsection (4) above is served on an authority, the authority shall—
(a)consider the matter to which the notice relates;
(b)include in any notification under subsection (7)(a) above the reasons for the belief concerned;
(c)include in any notification under subsection (7)(b) above a statement of the steps taken.