Property Attribute Data (PAD) is the VOA's own record of your property's characteristics. Requesting it is free and essential for a strong appeal.
What is PAD?
The VOA holds a record for every property showing its type, floor area, number of rooms, and other details used to set the council tax band. Comparing your PAD with your neighbours' PADs can reveal errors — for example, if the VOA recorded your property as having more rooms than it actually does, or if a comparable property has a larger floor area but is in a lower band.
The Listing Officer
Valuation Office Agency
council.tax@voa.gov.uk
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR POSTCODE]
[TODAY'S DATE]
Subject: Request for Property Attribute Data — [YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR POSTCODE]
Dear Listing Officer,
I am writing to request the Property Attribute Data (PAD) held by the Valuation Office Agency for the following properties. I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
My property:
[YOUR FULL ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTCODE]
Comparable properties (please also provide PAD for these):
1. [COMPARABLE ADDRESS 1, POSTCODE]
2. [COMPARABLE ADDRESS 2, POSTCODE]
3. [COMPARABLE ADDRESS 3, POSTCODE]
For each property listed above, I would be grateful to receive the following information as held on your records:
- Property type (detached, semi-detached, terraced, flat, maisonette)
- Number of storeys
- Total floor area (internal measurements)
- Number of rooms
- Year of construction
- Whether the property has a garage, parking, or garden
- Any extensions or alterations recorded
- The measurements used for the council tax banding assessment
- Any other property attributes held on file
I understand that this information is used in the determination of council tax bands and I am requesting it to help me understand whether my property's current band is correct.
Please respond within 20 working days as required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
If any part of this request is unclear, please contact me at the address above or by email at [YOUR EMAIL].
Yours faithfully,
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Tips for a successful PAD request
- • Always request PAD for your comparable properties too, not just your own — this lets you compare like-for-like.
- • If the VOA refuses, remind them this is a Freedom of Information request and they are legally required to respond.
- • When you receive the PAD, check for errors — incorrect room counts, wrong property type, or inflated floor area.
- • Include the PAD data in your appeal letter as evidence.