Business rates

[Moneta]

I have been told that there are certain things that are exempt from business rates, for instance areas hatched off with paint and used as walkways used to keep employees safe from say forklifts etc. My question is, are such exemptions real or simply fokelore?
Obviously if there are real savings that can be made by such unwritten rules, these would be helpful just as business rates appear to be on the rise, so any real tips that could assist with savings would be helpful to all, does anyone have any to pass on?

 

[Scalloway]

How non-domestic (business) properties are valued

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-non-domestic-property-including-plant-and-machinery-is-valued

 

[rach88]

The Valuation Office Agency's internal guidance, which it uses to value non-domestic property, is all published online. It's known as the rating manual. There's a lot of it

http://app.voa.gov.uk/corporate/publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/toc.html

 

[samkma]

Why is the online calculator not showing the new relief threshold for rates from April 2017?
Gov website states - Small business rate relief
You can get small business rate relief if:

• your property’s rateable value is less than £12,000 (£15,000 from April 2017)

But say you dont qualify for relief as the rateable value is £12,250 (gone up from £11,250)

 

[billmccallum1957]

Why is the online calculator not showing the new relief threshold for rates from April 2017?
Gov website states - Small business rate relief
You can get small business rate relief if:

• your property’s rateable value is less than £12,000 (£15,000 from April 2017)

But say you dont qualify for relief as the rateable value is £12,250 (gone up from £11,250)

probably because its not April yet....

 

[Psl]

If you have installed Combined Heat & Power (CHP) under the Combined Heat & Power Quality Assurance(CHPQA), you are exempt from business rates on this plant and machinery. This is as well as vastly reducing your heating and electricity costs.