My business rates have gone up to 26k as a valuation from April this year.
My rent since 2019 has been 15k, PA.
I thought the rent that units pay was included in how do they work things out. The two units next to be both pay 15k also as its the same landlord.
Is there a good way to appeal.
Thanks
I'm not sure if this is connected to your other later question but as mentioned, you can appeal online.
It is however, slow and the VOA do not reduce the figure willingly.
Check the price per sq metre for the other units, if this is lower, you may start to have a case. The fact you pay less is relevant but not the only driver, you getting a good deal will not result in you getting a business rates reduction too.
If the VOA take the case on, i.e. challenge your opinion, they will come and visit, You will need to be prepared as they are quite forceful, they are not on your side. In the cases I had, the VOA started to give the impression that our valuation would go up on spurious points such as having CCTV - it's just bullying tactics.
The case eventually ends up at a hearing, where emotive complaints will be considered irrelevant. They really don't care that their ridiculously high rating valuation has resulted in the decimation of the local town centre, livelihoods lost etc. The most relevant argument is comparing identical units and finding their valuation per square metre is lower meaning your unit is over-valued.
I won my case via the hearing because the VOA guy hadn't expected me to turn up and hadn't done any preparation. Playing naive in the build up actually helps as I gave the impression that i wouldn't be presenting a case. The people at the hearing were on the VOA's side but as the other side had very little evidence, I got the revaluation. At a previous case on another property, I stupidly agreed for another hearing as the VOA had not expected representation!!
