Skip Navigation

Ratepayers advised to avoid making DIY rating valuations

After releasing the draft 2010 Rating Revaluation in October, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has written to business ratepayers at vast expense, with a breakdown of their valuations.
 
This breakdown may initially be welcomed, but it is however, limited to the basic arithmetic of floor areas of buildings and values applied, with no proper explanation as to how the basic values have been produced.
 
Ratepayers are inevitably keen to check that these figures add up, which results with some painstakingly attempting to check complex rating figures. As the totals are produced by computer, these figures are never wrong, which simply serves to waste ratepayers’ time.
 
In this correspondence, ratepayers are also encouraged to measure their own properties and report any discrepancies back to the VOA. What the letters don’t reveal is that the VOA hasn’t been given the resources to visit any properties itself for the last ten years to check any discrepancies, which means rate payers are under no obligation to carry out this task.
 
Many are viewing this as a dumbing-down of the complex rating valuation process which, after completion of a specialist survey, relies on the careful adjustment and expert analysis of rental information, to develop a tone of values that is then applied to all commercial properties.
 
The VOA letters also include a misleading date that appears to imply an appeal deadline at the end of November 09. In practice, this is a wholly internal deadline for the VOA that will inevitably create a state of panic amongst confused ratepayers, who think they’ve got a matter of days to sort out their rates appeal.
 
In truth, a proper rating appeal cannot be submitted until April 2010 when the values come into force. It is more likely that the average ratepayer may innocently draw attention to matters that could serve to support the VOA’s assessment or eventually increase their liability.
 
Ratepayers may therefore want to think twice before embarking on ‘DIY’ rating valuations, as it may result in being a costly and unnecessary practice. If building-owners are concerned that their rates revaluation is inaccurate, Sanderson Weatherall advises all business ratepayers to seek proper professional rating advice from a fully qualified rating surveyor. 
  
back >>
back to top
News:
Firm on the road to success with relocation to prime site. More... Cycling to success for charity More... TV youth club where Ant met Dec sold More... No Place like home for Kevin More... 20,000 sq ft unit sold at Teesside Industrial Estate More... Nent Valley hidden gem for sale More... Deals galore at Teesside Industrial Estate More... Sanderson Weatherall LLP strengthens team with a duo promotion More... Northern Ireland Rating Revaluation Postponed until 2015 More... Award-winning office takes sixth title More... Sanderson Weatherall LLP announces key merger More... GOING, GOING.... ONLY LAST FEW UNITS REMAIN AT COUNTY BUSINESS PARK More... NEW USE CLASSIFICATION EXPLAINED More... Sanderson Weatherall flagship project nominated for RICS Award More... 28-40 BLOSSOM STREET, YORK More... RETAIL PARTNERSHIP TO TAKE MAXX SPACE AT METROCENTRE More... NEW EMPLOYMENT SITE FOR DARLINGTON GETS THE GREEN LIGHT More... FLURRY OF LETTINGS AT TEESSIDE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE More... LEEDS AGENT FIGHTS FOR FAIR RATING ASSESSMENTS More... LATEST LEASING SUCCESS AT TOWN CENTRE HOUSE More... GATEWAY TO THE REGION SIGNS UP NEW RESIDENT More... The UK's Most Active Agents More... SANDERSON WEATHERALL GOES SOCIAL! More... NEW FIRE STATIONS GET COUNCIL BACKING More... BEWARE PROPERTY 'RATE REDUCTION' SCAMS More... The Licensing and Leisure Industry More... STADIUM VILLAGE PUTS NORTH EAST ON THE MAP AS KEY SPORT AND LEISURE DESTINATION More... Ratepayers advised to avoid making DIY rating valuations More... The real deal: Sanderson Weatherall named top More... Estates Gazette North East most active agent competition. More... Downturn knock-on effect provides good opportunities to move More... Getting a grip on your assets More... Andrew Wilkinson, Partner of Investment at Sanderson Weatherall, comments on current investment trends in the retail market. More... Keeping Consents Alive – A New Hope for Developers? More... Location, Location and great deals More... Tenants advised to act now to avoid disappointment More... Commercial Property and Land Acquisition Services More... Firm celebrates £100 million milestone More... More... Rare town centre office space becomes available in Darlington More... Only one unit remains at new high-tech Business Park More... Richard Farr, Partner at Sanderson Weatherall advises North East businesses about how they can prepare for the change in business rates coming into effect next year. More... Sanderson Weatherall Leeds Secures Retail Deals More... City centre retail shows signs of confidence More... Sanderson Weatherall issue property investors More... Metrocentre Qube on 'course' for great dining and leisure experience More... ITV Border Studios Sold More... Surveyors Dig Deep for Local Charity More... Development Offers Prime Space along A1 Corridor More... Practical Help Offered to Drive North East Regeneration More... Major Developments bring Town Centre Offices to Middlesbrough Property Market More... Development Offers Gateway to the Region More... Making Your Space Pay More... Netto's Gosforth Planning Application Approved More... How green is your office? More... Look out for intangible assets More... National food & agribusiness team More... The changing role of the agent More... More... Its a Tenants' Market for Teesside's OOT Retail More... Demand for Teesside warehouses on the rise despite economic slow down More... Landlord launches Attractive Tenancy Deal to lure new Businesses into Offices More...