Rating

"Will Business survive at this rate"

The continuing struggle to survive that all businesses face has increased the importance of the need to control expenditure. Apart from stock and staff, the largest single expenditure that any business is likely to face is the occupational cost of the premises in which they are located, Many businesses are tied to a rent that can move upwards only but a large number have an opportunity to reduce their occupational costs by reducing their rates through appeal and most are unaware to this potential.

Many businesses are under the impression that action had to be taken within a specific time close to the last revaluation, but appeals can now be made at any time.

Many businesses make the mistake of appealing personally , and while the rating authority may listen to each individual and appear sympathetic they can only act in reducing a rate if the case is logically and correctly proven by reference to evidence.

An appeal on the rateable value is the most obvious and simple means of reducing rate liability, however, appeals may also be based on the exclusion of unused areas and empty property, the combination of areas or premises or the redefinition of areas from one use to another. There are other grounds for a reduction including even a simple mistake by the rating authority, but whatever the reason savings are there to be made.

Hooper Naylor Friend can provide an initial rating appraisal and report and either save you the cost of a fruitless appeal or fight an appeal to Tribunal as just one way to assist a tenant in reducing occupational costs.