Almost a quarter of homeowners on Sonora Fields have been told they won’t have to pay an increase in their council tax bill following an error.

Letters from Swale council were sent to 114 houses at the beginning of May informing them they will pay an extra £19.82 for a Band D property for the financial year 2015/16. This was due to Bobbing Parish Council’s precept charge not being added.

It came to light almost two months after households received an invoice for the amount they would pay for the year.

The areas affected were initially given as Gemstone Court (20 homes), Opal House (12), Quartz Way (18), Spinel Close (nine), Peridot Walk (11), Pearl Walk (16), Helidor Walk (22) and Garnet House (six).

However, several residents in Quartz Way and Peridot Walk contacted Meads ward councillor James Hunt (Con) saying they thought there had been a mistake.

After raising the matter with the authority, officers discovered there was confusion over the boundaries meaning the same home on the estate could be in two different wards.

This is because parts of it fall in an unparished area while some in the south west corner come within Bobbing.

After scrutinising in detail which homes should and shouldn’t be paying the charge, it was discovered 26 properties were incorrectly added into Bobbing. They have now been returned to the unparished part.

The number of properties moved into Bobbing is 88 which includes a home currently under construction in the Quartz Walk area.

Those affected are Helidor Walk (12), Pearl Walk (17), Garnet House (six), Peridot Walk (5), Quartz Way (seven), Gemstone Court (20), Spinel Close (nine) and Opel House (12).

A council spokesman said: “Following the issue coming to light a couple of months ago, we have made sure properties affected are being charged appropriately.

“We have written to the homes that had been incorrectly added to the Bobbing parish to apologise, explain what happened and confirm they were not liable for the parish precept.”

Cllr Hunt said: “I’ve spoken to one resident in Peridot Walk who said he was pleased he was not in the parished. I’ve not had any other residents complain about it so I assume the majority are now happy.

“I’m pleased it’s not taken too long.”