Business Rates

Business rates account for a significant proportion of your costs and in a competitive market minimising these costs is essential.

Anybody can submit an appeal but only professional advice from a qualified rating surveyor will achieve the best possible results and minimise your business rates bill. There are many companies offering to deal with rating appeals but professional advice from qualified rating surveyors is available from members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV).

Members of these organisations are professionally trained and qualified and have the knowledge, resources and expertise to conduct a rating appeal. They are also regulated by rules of professional conduct which offer redress to clients and are required to hold professional indemnity insurance.

The RICS, IRRV and the Rating Surveyors Association are increasingly concerned about the so-called ‘cowboy’ rating advisers who have caused considerable controversy and received extensive coverage in the media.

Typically, they cold call upon businesses making misleading and inaccurate comments about the property and rateable value and ‘guarantee’ to secure significant reductions. Many are subject to fraud investigations by The Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards Officers.

In an attempt to protect ratepayers and to prevent misleading advice being given, a Rating Code of Practice has been adopted by the professional bodies and makes the ratepayer aware of the Terms of Engagement under which they are securing the advice of rating consultants. The code defines the minimum amount of information that should be adopted within the Terms of Engagement.

Bowyer Bryce are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and comply with the Code of Practice. We specialise in industrial/ warehouse, office and retail property and our qualified professional surveyors have expert knowledge of these markets, supported by an extensive database of transactions. We also have detailed knowledge of landlord & tenant and business rates legislation that is essential for analysing and properly interpreting market transactions to determine the true picture.

Bowyer Bryce are also part of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Rating Helpline Service.

We will advise you upon your rateable value and if appropriate submit an appeal, and consider other areas where rate liability may be reduced now and in the future such as exemptions, vacant rate allowances and ‘material changes’.
It is possible that your rateable value may not be unreasonable or perhaps too low. The Valuation Office has the power to alter assessments at any time and therefore professional advice from a qualified rating surveyor is essential as an ill-conceived appeal could back-fire and increase your rates bill.

Bowyer Bryce will oversee the entire appeal process from submission of the appeal, negotiating the rateable value, calculating your revised liability and ensuring that you receive the full amount of your refund including interest.
In most cases, we will provide an initial consultation without charge or obligation. If we recommend an appeal our charges are based upon the saving we achieve for you.

All businesses should seek professional advice to ensure that overheads are minimised and any potential savings are maximised.

Request a copy of our free guide to the 2005 Revaluation.
rating@bowyerbryce.co.uk

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