Valuation officers getting tough on business rates appeals

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Pedantic issues such as typos in appeals may cost organisation on business rates

By Ashley Brunskill

Business rates appeals are being subject to a far tougher stance by valuation officers with some requests failing due to typos.

Jerry Schurder, head of rating at chartered surveyor Gerald Eve, told the Telegraph that some of the more than 77,000 business rates assessments appeals have been declared invalid on "pedantic grounds".

Mr Schurder said that it was critical that business owners left no mistakes in the documentation before it is sent to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) .

He said: "The [VOA] scrutinises every appeal and if there is any mistake, however trivial it may seem, they will treat the appeal as invalid and the right to correct bills over the last five years may be lost."

In recent weeks the VOA has urged organisations to check their business rates valuations with changes to the system due to come into force on April 1st.

Organisations that make successful appeals may see the rates reduced up to 2015 as the government phases in increases through its transitional relief scheme.

Source: ask-re The Property People LLP