Business Rates Rent Review

amyjohnners_2

oh you can't leave it at that!!! do you have personal experience with them? is there a company you can recommend? thanks

ciano125

I'm not going to recommend any particular company, I've been accused of trying to get work myself on here when all I was trying to do was point out to people that they might be getting done over and should take further advice.

For guidance though, look in the yellow pages for a firm of Chartered Surveyors who specialise in Business Rates (or Rating as it is more commonly known). The national firms usually all have Rating Depts but the small local firms may well have experience of Rating too but they usually offer other services too. Speak to two or three if you like to get a few opinions, nobody I know will turn you away.

Be quick mind, the new List comes into effect in April so if an appeal is necessary, it needs to be served by 31st March 2010.

simpywimpy

Thanks so much ciano for your advice. I had no idea about all this. I only do the accounts for my son so have no prior experience of this type of thing.

Do you know what the main points for challenging a valuation would be? The rep asked me about parking and empty units on the same block but nothing else.

simpywimpy

I read the link to the other forum and although ours was a different company I think the basis is the same. You pay your cash when the appeal goes in - not if it's won.

I guess this is why they dont start to process for 2wks - not straight away so the cooling off period has expired.

I feel a recorded letter going off tomorrow morning

simpywimpy

anyone any ideas what the main points would be to challenge a valuation?

ciano125

Sorry, yes, I'm a Rating Surveyor however there are really too many variables to list as to why a valuation may be wrong.

Please don't pay anything to anyone UNTIL they have confirmed a REFUND, not just a reduction in RV - you can still get your RV reduced but not get a refund because of transitional arrangements (that's where it gets really complicated though!). It is free to serve an appeal, so even if they say the money is not payable until after the appeal is served I'd steer well clear.

Use the RICS website http://www.rics.org/uk and use the "Find a Surveyor" tab, you probably want to search for "Commercial Property". Ask them to do a desktop valuation for the 2005 Rating List and see what they say. No win no fee with a percentage of savings would be the norm.

simpywimpy

I was planning to cancel the arrangement with the surveyor but they turned up today said "yes you should save this that and the other" followed by "we can put an application in for you" then slapped an invoice for £500 plus ..... at this point the surveyor hadnt even measured the shop space!!

ciano125

I may be wrong, but that doesnt sound like a respectable firm to me. Without discussing the matter with the Valuation Office, there is no way in my opinion that he could KNOW for sure that he could get a reduction. He may suspect it, but he shouldn't say for sure.

simpywimpy

Exactly. Does the 14 day cooling off still apply for businesses?

Savvy_Sue

I think it's been said before that there is no cooling off for b2b sales, only for personal customers where the salesman calls at your home.