Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Business Rates?

Every business has to pay business rates when they are in the occupation or part occupation of a commercial property including all factories, offices and shops throughout England, Scotland and Wales and set by the Valuation Office Agency or Assessors in Scotland. Revaluations are undertaken at five yearly intervals when invariably new legislation and procedures are introduced.  The payment of rates on commercial property represents one of the largest overheads for businesses and substantially impact on the profitability of many organisations.

How Are Business Rates Calculated?

Business rates are calculated by multiplying the ‘Rateable Value’ of a property by the uniform business rate (UBR). The ‘rateable value’ is the Valuation Office’s estimate of a property’s market rent at a set valuation date. We are currently in the 2010 Rating List with rateable values being based on a valuation date of 1st April 2008. Please note that increases (or decreases) in business rates may be phased in over a period and the actual amount payable could be higher or lower than the simple multiplication process, this is known as Transitional Relief

How We Can Help?

Since Business rates are based on the Valuation Office’s estimate of the annual rental of a property, the calculation of them is often open to challenge.  Our Business Rates team based throughout the UK consists of professionally qualified Chartered Surveyors who have a vast knowledge and experience in managing the complexities of the rating system. We have a long history of successfully achieving reductions for our clients who have remained with us since the 1973 rating revaluation.

What We Do?

In simple terms, we use our experience and knowledge of the rating system to mitigate your rate liabilities. We will lodge a business rates appeal with the Valuation Office, with the aim of securing a full refund on past payments including interest and a reduction in your rate liability going forward. Not only do we advise clients on traditional accommodation such as Offices, Industrial and Retail premises, we also have specialist experience in Education including Universities, Colleges, Schools and Daycare Nurseries; Healthcare including Doctors Surgeries, Health Authorities and Private Clinics; Roadside properties including Car Showrooms, Workshops, Trade Counters and Showrooms; Factories, Mills and Distribution Warehouses; and Hotels, Clubs, Restaurants and other Leisure properties.

We are also able to provide strategies to minimise rate liability if a property is empty, only partially occupied or is adversely affected by external factors such as major building works, roadwork’s and new competition in the locality.

What Happens Next?

Please give our Rating Team a Call on 0333 6000 110 or click here for our Call Back service to set up an appointment to discuss your requirements. Once we have your instructions to proceed, a Rating Appeal will be lodged on your behalf with the Valuation Office Agency and we will notify you when the appeal has been acknowledged and is confirmed as a valid appeal. We will keep in regular communication with you throughout the life of the appeal and we can provide various reporting formats for multiple site clients at a frequency of their own choosing. Please note that it typically takes about 12-18 months from when the appeal is first lodged to be concluded with the Valuation Office, so we advise clients to contact us at the earliest opportunity.