Business rates - rateable values and appeals
The Listing Officer of the Valuation Office Agency (part of the Inland Revenue) has set a rateable value for every non-domestic property, apart from those that are exempt from business rates.
The rateable value broadly represents the yearly rent a property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. The valuation office revalues properties every five years. For the revaluation that took effect from 1 April 2010, this date was set as 1 April 2008. 2010 revaluation leaflet sent with 2009/10 bills (pdf)
If you have any reason to believe your rateable value is not correct you should contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to make a proposal.
Even if you appeal, you must continue to pay your business rates based on the existing rateable value of your property. If your appeal is successful, we will send you a refund for any overpayment that you have made. An appeal will not be backdated beyond the start of the financial year in which it is made.
Contact details for VOA:
- email ratinglondon@voa.gsi.gov.uk
- tel 03000 501501
- VOA, Chase House, 305 Chase Road, Southgate, London N14 6LZ
- website www.voa.gov.uk
If you make a proposal to the VOA they must make a decision within four months of receiving it. Once you receive the VOA officer's decision if you do not agree, you have three months to appeal to the independent valuation tribunal.
Contact details for the Valuation Tribunal:
- tel - 0300 123 2035
- address - Valuation Tribunal, Second Floor, Black Lion House, 2nd floor, 45 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DU
- email - vtwhitechapel@vts.gsi.gov.uk
- website www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk
The Valuation Tribunal Service have produced a series of leaflets on different aspects of the appeals process, including 'a guide to their notice of decision' covering all aspects of classes of appeal. These can be found at http://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/vt_guidance_notes.aspx
Other useful fact sheets:
Rating advisors
The valuation tribunal
Bands and rateable values explained
Explanatory notes (accompany bills)
2010 revaluation www.voa.gov.uk
Ways to contact us about business rates
Page last updated: 09/05/2012
