09 Mar 2015

A question about : Business Rates

Hi

I lease premises which are detailed on the business rates bill as wine bar and premises. The business rates seem astronomical especially since I am not doing anything inherently different from the many pubs I am surrounded by and yet their rates are a fraction of mine.

My question is what is the best avenue to go down to try and reduce them - I'm presuming to have the business recategorised - in fact at the moment we rely on wet sales but are introducing food and as such our opening hours etc will change - I am presuming in the business rates jargon this could be a 'material change of circumstances'? Is it worth employing someone like CVS (business rates specialists) to attempt to do this on my behalf and does anyone know what they charge or is the system simple enough to tackle on my own?

The rates have been appealed before on the grounds that they weren't accurate (I think) and the appeal dismissed.

Thanks in advance........ title=Smile

Best answers:

  • I had a similar problem and found it impossible to get them changed Im afraid.
    You best bet would be to speak to the valuation officer for your area and see when the rates for you are next up for valuation. Ours is due this April gone but not sure if that is countrywide.
    The officer was very good, very willing to help and advise. I would steer clear of the CVS who told us we had a very good case on which to get the valuation changed when it was actually not possible at all.
  • if the RV is less than Ј12,000 - is it your only premises? are you claiming small business rate relief already?
  • As a wine bar, if the premises are in a prime retail area they may be valued as a shop if they have the appearance and characteristics of one. Pubs are valued on their trade.
    You should contact the VOA and discuss the valuation.
  • As the two previous posters have said, firstly are you claiming full relief and secondly a Pub has a different use as far as the VA are concerned. Close your place, gut it and it can be a shop, hence ratio rates.
  • Can you confirm the size of your Rates Bill and Rateable Value, then people will be able to give more appropriate advice.
  • I have unfortunately hired CVS, they said that they have sent me a letter of Authorisation and that as I didn't sign it I am in breach of contract!! Now I have received a bill for Ј1200, for the works they carried out.. I have never received a letter, not sure what to do.
  • I'd advise your father to speak to the council and ask them what his liability is now.
  • Solicitor? Or, once you have the info from the council (which to my mind shouldn't take long), a copy of the new demand, the old demand, and their agreement with you with a polite letter and a cheque for what appears to you to be due, offered in full and final settlement. Then keeping the solicitor in reserve.
    BUT you do have to read the small print on the agreement.
  • I guess this is a one time only post by new user "CVS Contract Victim" or else it won't be long until they start asking how they can change their user name.
    Anyway CVS Contact Victim, as you say you entered a contract.
    You need to look at the terms of the contract you entered into and see if you feel there is any breach of those terms. If so, seek independent legal advice.
    The internet, and especially open forums on such, is no proper place to obtain such advice.
  • If your legal advisor does not consider the CVS Ts & Cs unfair, there is little you can do. If you however think they are unfair, you could risk not paying, wait for CVS to sue you, then in court ask the judge to rule the Ts and Cs unfair.
    I must emphasise that in no way am I suggesting you do this, you may lose even more money.
  • We have just been approached by CVS and they seem to have 'already' done the work and have told us No WIn No Fee. So as far as that contract which we sign is that not true?
    We don't mind giving away a % of something we had not got the faintest idea how to get in the first place.
  • This is what I thought, but they seem to have addressed this with a No Win No Fee title, and I have just read through the back of the contract and it doesn't mention anything untoward or what I believe to be worrying. It does mention though that if you try and get out of their agreement they will charge you etc, but thats only fair if you enter into an agreement isnt it??
    Seems we shall have to see what happens.
    They have said that they reckon they can get us over Ј10000 back... So if they can they get an agreed %.
    Shall keep you all informed, after all if they keep to their 'Sold by their agent' agreement and not hide anything else then cool :-)
  • i was taken to county court today by this bunch of liars
    thank god justice prevailed and the judge found in my favour.
    now the judge has ruled cvs lied i intend taking matters further as i believe if you lie to gain a contract its classed as fraud. ****(see below)***
    i will also be taking steps to make a claim for damages.
    if i had a choice of covering myself in blood and swimming with sharks or use cvs, cvs would come a long distant second.
    please please avoid cvs at all costs
    ***i am not stating the judge called cvs liars or said they committed fraud or anything else. i am stating that the judge dismissed cvs claim and believed our version of events.***
    Gareth
  • Gareth,
    I'm very interested in your experience, can you please provide more details?
    Thanks a lot
    Ciano
  • this bunch of crooks came to my premises promising a historic rates refund for the time frames of 1995 to 2005
    i told them many times not to do anything to my 2010 ratings period. to which they agreed.
    i gave permission via email to act on my behalf as per our conversation
    they then went ahead and tried to get a reduction on my 2010 ratings period. once the VOA are informed of a mistake they have to act.
    I did get a reduction due to the VOA being obliged to reduce my rate but not because of cvs.
    Cvs then sent me a bill for over 5k which i refused to pay.
    They threatened me with bankruptcy then threatened me with a winding up order against my company.
    for over 12 months they continually threatened me causing a great deal of stress.
    I refused to pay these crooks a penny and eventually they took me to county court.
    The judge agreed in my favour that they had lied about the work they were going to do and threw the case out.
    im only telling my story so as to stop these crooks trying to rip any body off.
    take my advice stay away from these people.
    Gareth
  • Thanks Gareth.
    Is there any link online or anywhere to a copy of the decision so we can see what the judge said in writing please?
    Thanks again.
    Ciano
  • I have no idea where or if you can view the case online
    The case was heard at llangefni county court 11.11.14 at approx 11.20
    All i had was letter from the court saying case dismissed.
    In the court the judge said he did not believe the account given by CVS and in that case i could not have agreed to any contract with them
    Gareth