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These operators are unlikely to be professionally
qualified and often make fraudulent promises to secure large
reductions in your Business Rate bill, if you pay them an advance
fee, often of several hundred pounds.
Once you have paid them you are unlikely to be able to seek
redress, except through the courts, and an ill considered appeal
could even increase your Business Rates bill.
You may wish to use a rating advisor when making an appeal.
Members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the
Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers (ISVA), and the
Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV), are regulated
by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public
from misconduct, and are required to hold adequate professional
indemnity insurance.
Before employing a rating advisor who is not a member of one of
the above bodies, you should satisfy yourself that he or she has
the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as the appropriate
indemnity insurance.
March 2007 the Valuation office stated the
following:
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) sets the rateable value on
which your rating bill of your property is calculated. A
revaluation of non-domestic property occurs every five years and
the current rating lists came into effect on 1 April 2005. Most
businesses will have received a summary valuation, which explains
how your rateable value is assessed and these are available to view
on the VOA website.
If you believe your rateable value to be incorrect, you can
contact the VOA and speak to a member of staff who can answer your
questions. If, having spoke to the VOA, you still disagree with
your rateable value, then you can make a 'Proposal to Alter the
Rating List' and there is no charge for this. In general a proposal
against your 2005 list valuation has to be made at any time before
1 April 2010 and you cannot make a proposal on the same grounds, if
you have already submitted one. Further information is available at
www.voa.gov.uk/business_rates
or by calling the VOA on 01902 438300
The government provides the following official advice for
ratepayers:
Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about
their rateable value or their rates bill. Appeals against rateable
values can be made free of charge. However, ratepayers who do wish
to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS - website www.rics.org.uk)
and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV - website
www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified and are regulated by rules of
professional conduct designed to protect the public from
misconduct. Before you employ a rating advisor, you should check
that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as
appropriate indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary,
seek further advice before entering into any
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