- Original Poster
- #1
Hi guys,
So I recently acquired a small church hall (no steeple) which formerly belonged to an actual Church organisation. Now I intend to convert it into an arts center, for performance, photography - all sorts of creative activities with some modest office usage.
Of course I'm concerned over what sort of increase the rateable value might have, now that it will cease to be a religious building. It's a bit of a tall ask, but I thought I might share some info in case anyone had any experience.
So the building is about 1200 square feet, single story, stone (mid 19th century.) It consists of a main hall (900 square feet and no galleries) a back room of about 200 square feet, a toilet, a box room and a small kitchen.
At the moment it's rateable value is £4100, but it was assessed as such when the hall had pews, which I'll be intending to remove, opening the hall up for our use.
I expect only a very small part (say square feet) of the hall would be used as offices. The back room for storage. The main hall would be kept for creative arts purposes.
Where we are, we don't have to pay business rates unless the rateable value exceeds 18,000. Of course such rates would kill me...
So my question is folks, does anyone know the likelihood of that RV increasing over 18,000 or any tips before I meet the assessor next week!
Appreciate if anyone has any experience at all that they're willing to share.
So I recently acquired a small church hall (no steeple) which formerly belonged to an actual Church organisation. Now I intend to convert it into an arts center, for performance, photography - all sorts of creative activities with some modest office usage.
Of course I'm concerned over what sort of increase the rateable value might have, now that it will cease to be a religious building. It's a bit of a tall ask, but I thought I might share some info in case anyone had any experience.
So the building is about 1200 square feet, single story, stone (mid 19th century.) It consists of a main hall (900 square feet and no galleries) a back room of about 200 square feet, a toilet, a box room and a small kitchen.
At the moment it's rateable value is £4100, but it was assessed as such when the hall had pews, which I'll be intending to remove, opening the hall up for our use.
I expect only a very small part (say square feet) of the hall would be used as offices. The back room for storage. The main hall would be kept for creative arts purposes.
Where we are, we don't have to pay business rates unless the rateable value exceeds 18,000. Of course such rates would kill me...
So my question is folks, does anyone know the likelihood of that RV increasing over 18,000 or any tips before I meet the assessor next week!
Appreciate if anyone has any experience at all that they're willing to share.
