Business Rates

Ensuring a Fair Rate

Our mission is to ensure occupiers are paying a rate that is fair and appropriate to their property and to keep this overhead to a minimum.

After rent, business rates are likely to be the next largest proportion of the main costs of occupying commercial premises. It is therefore vital for occupiers to ensure the accuracy of the rateable value of their premises to avoid paying too much. Understanding the transitional arrangements that are in place is also crucial.

The last rating revaluation came into effect on 1 April 2010 and average rateable values across England increased by 19%. However some areas and sectors were subject to much higher increases, some West End offices seeing their rateable value double for example.

All ratepayers are entitled to appeal the rateable value of their property which, if successful, can lead to significant savings. Making the most of this opportunity requires detailed technical expertise and market knowledge and the ability to apply this to complex negotiations.

We normally provide a free-of-charge initial assessment to ascertain whether an appeal is worthwhile with our fees being based upon the actual monetary saving if an appeal is successfully lodged.