1. What are business rates?
Every commercial business occupier must pay Business Rates. Rates are a substantial business cost which translates to approximately 50% of the rent that businesses pay. Rates are calculated by multiplying the rate poundage as set by the Government each year by the Rateable Value. The Valuation Office assesses your Rateable Value, every five years and the last revaluation took place on 1st April 2000, with a relevant Valuation date of 1st April 1998.

2. What is Transitional Relief?
Transitional relief is a system implemented by Government to minimise the increase in rates payable on a year by year basis. As Rateable Values can alter greatly between rating lists the Government wish to ensure that any increases are phased over a period of time.

3. How can Rating 2000 help your company?
Every occupier has the right to appeal their Rateable Value and Rating 2000 is one of the few companies specialising in this area. We will issue an appeal on your behalf, carry out a full survey and negotiate with the Valuation Office. We have been successful achieving a reduction on the majority of the appeals lodged and would enjoy the opportunity of challenging your assessment without taking much of your own time.

4. How long does the appeal process take?
The actual analysis of your assessment and the decision of whether to appeal will only take several days. Once we have decided to proceed with the appeal we must wait for the appeal to be listed for Valuation Tribunal before we can proceed with discussions. The Tribunal will list cases in accordance with their own schedule and availability of time for discussion. Most appeals are heard within a year of the appeal being lodged, but this is not always the case. Realistically we expect 90% of all cases to be heard by 1st April 2004. Nonetheless we have no control over the appeal listing procedure and any savings we are able to achieve will be backdated to the 1st day of the financial year in which the appeals were lodged. You may also be entitled to interest. (Transitional relief may affect savings).

5. Will the Valuation Tribunal actually hear the appeal?
We will commence discussions with the Valuation Officer at least six weeks prior to the Tribunal date and these discussions will continue until the appeal is resolved. We will usually know within a week prior to the Tribunal hearing date whether the hearing will take place although the majority of cases are agreed before reaching Tribunal. We will only pursue the case into court with your full agreement.

6. Are there any other ways to achieve reductions in our rates?
There are other ways to achieve Rateable Value reductions and we would advise you to read through the page "How to achieve further rates savings" for details.