Council Tax Deputee — Workbench (demo)

This Workbench is a tool for HMRC Valuation Office caseworkers. It composes case intake analysis from an underlying rules engine. The engine does not decide the band; a human Listing Officer decides. No engine decision recorded here constitutes a statutory Notice.

Week 10: full case-file + caseworker actions arrive next week. This page is a read-only skeleton.

WB-001New taxpayer, strong evidence (clean Route A)

Incoming 2026-04-14 · 12 Acacia Avenue, Anytown AN1 2CD

SYNTHETIC

Subject

Address
12 Acacia Avenue, Anytown AN1 2CD
Current band
D
Property type
semi-detached
Year built
1975
Floor area
95

Draft proposal

Capacity
resident-owner
Ground
reg-4-1-a
Proposed band
C
Facts in support
Five comparables in same street / adjacent close in Band C.

Engine outcome

Route A · Outcome ELIGIBLE_PROPOSAL_WEAK

Full engine result (JSON)
{
  "decision": {
    "engineVersion": "1.0.0",
    "decisionId": "dec-mocsz7uw-2",
    "createdAt": "2026-04-23",
    "input": {
      "proposerCapacity": "resident-owner",
      "taxpayerStartDate": "2026-02-01",
      "monthsOfCouncilTaxPayment": 3
    },
    "route": {
      "route": "A",
      "reason": "New taxpayer of an existing entry: within 6-month window from 2026-02-01.",
      "ruleRef": "reg-4-1-a",
      "citations": [
        {
          "id": "SI-2009-2270",
          "title": "Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2270)",
          "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2270/contents/made",
          "note": "Operational spine for England. Reg 4 circumstances; reg 5 content; reg 7 invalidity; reg 12 notice of alteration.",
          "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
        },
        {
          "id": "CT-MANUAL-S3-ENGLAND",
          "title": "Council Tax Manual — Section 3: England — proposals and appeals",
          "url": "https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual/section-3-england-proposals-and-appeals",
          "note": "HMRC Valuation Office operational manual. Sets out invalidity practice and time limits.",
          "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
        },
        {
          "id": "HMRC-VO-BLOG-2024-EVIDENCE",
          "title": "Evidence to support your Council Tax band challenge — HMRC Valuation Office (Nov 2024)",
          "url": "https://valuationoffice.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/12/evidence-to-support-your-council-tax-band-challenge/",
          "note": "Evidence standards: comparables (up to 5, similar age/style/design/size/type; ±10% size; same street/estate or ~10 miles rural), and explicit rejection of online price calculators.",
          "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
        },
        {
          "id": "LGFA-1992-s24",
          "title": "LGFA 1992 s.24 — Alteration of lists",
          "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/14/section/24",
          "note": "Defines 'material reduction' and the alteration-of-list framework.",
          "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
        }
      ],
      "timeRemainingDays": 100
    },
    "outcomeLabel": "ELIGIBLE_PROPOSAL_WEAK",
    "preFilingSuggested": false,
    "disclosures": [
      "This is an AI-powered tool; the user is making their own submission; we are not giving legal advice; nothing we produce has been reviewed by a qualified human.",
      "You must continue paying council tax at your current band until the challenge is decided.",
      "A challenge can result in the band staying the same, going down, or going up.",
      "Submitting a formal proposal consumes the Reg 4 window for this ground; if it is found invalid, the same ground may not be re-used on the same facts in this list cycle."
    ]
  },
  "evidence": {
    "subjectAddress": "12 Acacia Avenue, Anytown AN1 2CD",
    "candidatesScored": 5,
    "top5": [
      {
        "address": "10 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "14 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "16 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "20 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "3 Birch Close",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      }
    ],
    "all": [
      {
        "address": "10 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "14 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "16 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "20 Acacia Avenue",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      },
      {
        "address": "3 Birch Close",
        "band": "C",
        "propertyType": "semi-detached",
        "dimensionScores": [
          {
            "dimensionId": "1-type",
            "dimensionLabel": "Property Type",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Same type: semi-detached"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "2-age",
            "dimensionLabel": "Age (Year Built)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10 years"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "3-size",
            "dimensionLabel": "Floor Area (Size)",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Within 10%"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "4-style",
            "dimensionLabel": "Style & Design Archetype",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Style unknown"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "5-proximity",
            "dimensionLabel": "Location & Proximity",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "Proximity missing"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "6-banding",
            "dimensionLabel": "Council Tax Band",
            "level": "STRONG",
            "score": 1,
            "reason": "Lower band"
          },
          {
            "dimensionId": "7-sale-date",
            "dimensionLabel": "Sale Date (if sales evidence)",
            "level": "WEAK",
            "score": 0,
            "reason": "No sale evidence"
          }
        ],
        "overallScore": 0.6666666666666666,
        "weaknesses": [
          "Style & Design Archetype: Style unknown",
          "Location & Proximity: Proximity missing",
          "Sale Date (if sales evidence): No sale evidence"
        ],
        "usableAsComparable": true
      }
    ],
    "estateClusteringDetected": false,
    "citations": [
      {
        "id": "HMRC-VO-BLOG-2024-EVIDENCE",
        "title": "Evidence to support your Council Tax band challenge — HMRC Valuation Office (Nov 2024)",
        "url": "https://valuationoffice.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/12/evidence-to-support-your-council-tax-band-challenge/",
        "note": "Evidence standards: comparables (up to 5, similar age/style/design/size/type; ±10% size; same street/estate or ~10 miles rural), and explicit rejection of online price calculators.",
        "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
      },
      {
        "id": "LGFA-1992-s24",
        "title": "LGFA 1992 s.24 — Alteration of lists",
        "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/14/section/24",
        "note": "Defines 'material reduction' and the alteration-of-list framework.",
        "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
      },
      {
        "id": "CT-MANUAL-S3-ENGLAND",
        "title": "Council Tax Manual — Section 3: England — proposals and appeals",
        "url": "https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual/section-3-england-proposals-and-appeals",
        "note": "HMRC Valuation Office operational manual. Sets out invalidity practice and time limits.",
        "retrievedAt": "2026-04-23"
      }
    ]
  },
  "invalidity": {
    "riskLevel": "clean",
    "blocking": false,
    "checks": [
      {
        "checkId": "check-1-reg5-fields",
        "order": 1,
        "title": "All Regulation 5 fields populated",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "HIGH"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-2-proposer-capacity",
        "order": 2,
        "title": "Proposer's capacity establishes standing",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "HIGH"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-3-time-limit",
        "order": 3,
        "title": "Time limit met",
        "severity": "HIGH",
        "passed": true
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-4-permitted-ground",
        "order": 4,
        "title": "Permitted ground selected and supported by facts",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "HIGH"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-5-band-consistency",
        "order": 5,
        "title": "Proposed band internally consistent with evidence",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "MEDIUM"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-6-effective-date",
        "order": 6,
        "title": "Effective date consistent with ground",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "MEDIUM"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-7-no-misleading",
        "order": 7,
        "title": "No obviously misleading statements",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "HIGH"
      },
      {
        "checkId": "check-8-spelling-format",
        "order": 8,
        "title": "Spelling/formatting matches current list entry",
        "passed": true,
        "severity": "LOW"
      }
    ],
    "defectCategories": [],
    "explanation": "Proposal passes all invalidity checks. Ready for submission.",
    "citations": []
  }
}

Candidates

  • 10 Acacia Avenue — Band C
  • 14 Acacia Avenue — Band C
  • 16 Acacia Avenue — Band C
  • 20 Acacia Avenue — Band C
  • 3 Birch Close — Band C