:confused: Business Rates

[numbnuts]

I have recently taken out a lease on a garage in Bristol, i have set up a direct debit for the monthly amount and so on, but a couple of people have mentioned to me about appealing against your premiem...I suppose my question is on what grounds if any can this be done..
Its all a bit new to me so any help will be greatly recieved.

[chrisgr31]

numbnuts said:

I have recently taken out a lease on a garage in Bristol, i have set up a direct debit for the monthly amount and so on, but a couple of people have mentioned to me about appealing against your premiem...I suppose my question is on what grounds if any can this be done.. Its all a bit new to me so any help will be greatly recieved.

One question is who has suggested appealling? If it is companies offering to reduce your rates tread very carefully indeed. A few are reputable, but many are not. Happens to be a fielf I specialise in so feel free to email me.

Broadly speaking the Rateable Value is suppossed to represent the annual rental value of the property as at 1st April 2003 so your rent will offer a clue. The passing rent can be taken as a guide but may be affected by all manner of things so the VO takes an average of rents.

Particular care should be taken to avoid any business seeking to reduce your rates where they are seeking any upfront fee, or where there is only a fee once an appeal has been sucessfully made. Any fee should be based upon the savings in rates payable.

If you can email me with details of your property, the post code, Rateable Value and your rent I can offer more help.

[numbnuts]

Thanks for the reply chris , i will dig out the relavent information and email soon, cheers

[chrisgr31]

numbnuts said:

Thanks for the reply chris , i will dig out the relavent information and email soon, cheers

No email yet, unless it has been caught be a spam filter.

[numbnuts]

chrisgr31 said:

numbnuts said: Thanks for the reply chris , i will dig out the relavent information and email soon, cheers No email yet, unless it has been caught be a spam filter.

Sorry chris i have been in and out of hospital for a week or so ,i will dig out the info just as soon as i stop rattling. cheers

[Plotloss]

I used to sell business rating appeals, first job.

Dont bother, in essence, it was a scam then and probably still is now.

Any business rates fall into one of three bands, primary, secondary and non rateable.

The appeals are on the basis that certain areas which the council will set as secondary are unrated etc.

[chrisgr31]

Plotloss said:

I used to sell business rating appeals, first job. Dont bother, in essence, it was a scam then and probably still is now. Any business rates fall into one of three bands, primary, secondary and non rateable. The appeals are on the basis that certain areas which the council will set as secondary are unrated etc.

Thats cobblers! The job you were doing was probably a scam, as there are a lot of companies who are less than reputable. The company you acted for probably charged an upfront fee, which was only payabe if their was a successful appeal, neglecting to tell the ratepayer that you considered the appeal successful when the VO acknowledged receipt, not when a reduction was agreed etc.

However there are many Chartered Surveyors who are bound by professional rules and will do a decent job and ensure the assessment is correct based on rental values and only charge fees based on savings in rates payable.

Being a Chartered Surveyor and having worked in this field for 15 years including 5 years in the Valuation Office I do know what I am talking about! I have come across the cowboy agents and regrettably they have cost a lot of people a lot of money both in fees, and savings they haven't achieved.

[chrisgr31]

numbnuts said:

Sorry chris i have been in and out of hospital for a week or so ,i will dig out the info just as soon as i stop rattling. cheers

Thats OK hope it's nothing serious. Just thought I'd post in case your email got caught in the spam filters here.