Rateable Values Appeals for Business Rates
Apart from properties that are exempt from Business Rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is normally set by the Valuation Office Agency, an agency of the Inland Revenue, which draws up and maintains a full list of all rateable values.
The rateable value of your property is shown on the front of your bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1 April 2005, this date was set as 1 April 2003. The rateable value list, together with further details, is available from the Valuation Office Agency's website. The Valuation Office Agency has already started gathering data about current rental values in preparation for the 2010 local list.
Appeals
The valuation officer may alter the value if the circumstances of the property have changed. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information about making appeals can be found on the Valuation Office Agency's website or by contacting your local valuation office at:
District Valuer
Valuation Office Agency
2nd Floor
1 Francis Grove
Wimbledon
London
SW19 4DT
Telephone: 020 8276 8600
Successful appeals against values shown in the rating list that came into force on 1 April 2005 will normally be backdated to that date, although there are exceptions to this. Further information about these arrangements may be found on the website of the Valuation Office Agency.
Please note, there is no entitlement to defer any payment pending the outcome of an appeal against the rateable value.