Commercial Business Rates Advice
All non-domestic rating assessments are due to be revised and will take effect on 1 April 2010 – this revision will have a direct affect on the level of business rates you are liable to pay – are you prepared for the changes that this may bring?
Every five years the Valuation Office is required to revalue all non-domestic properties in order to re-align values with changes in the marketplace. For all commercial and other non-domestic properties, the revaluation will be based on values in the marketplace at 1 April 2008.
What is likely?
It is difficult to second guess the Valuation Office with any degree of accuracy, but the valuation date of 1 April 2008, coming before the major economic downturn, is giving many cause for concern. Our research suggests that we will see increases, which in some cases will be significant; leading to big increases in rates bills.
How can we assist?
When the new rateable values come into effect, firms will contact rate payers who will encourage businesses to appeal against the new revaluation regardless of whether or not an appeal would be either appropriate or valid. Any appeal can see rateable values increase as well as decrease and therefore detailed investigations and an intimate understanding of each particular property is required.
Our commercial experts have a track record of successful appeals against incorrect valuations and while this is due in no small part to professional expertise, there is also no substitute for thorough local knowledge when it comes to making the kind of evidence-based case on which the appeals are made.

Richard HardyMRICS
Partner
Richard is a Partner, based in Leeds, who advises clients throughout the UK on a wide range of commercial property matters, including corporate as well as property acquisitions, disposals, landlor...
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Richard is a Partner, based in Leeds, who advises clients throughout the UK on a wide range of commercial property matters, including corporate as well as property acquisitions, disposals, landlord & tenant and general day-to-day portfolio asset management. He has specific expertise in the light industrial, warehousing and trade counter sectors, acting for high profile national and regional clients.
Richard’s passion is for early 1930s supercharged vintage MG sports cars, having restored his own vehicles since the age of 16.
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Duncan WisbeyMRICS
Associate
Duncan is a member of the Landlord and Tenant team and is based in the Cambridge office. He specialises in the provision of professional advice on landlord and tenant matters, in particul...
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Duncan is a member of the Landlord and Tenant team and is based in the Cambridge office. He specialises in the provision of professional advice on landlord and tenant matters, in particular rent reviews, lease renewals, rating and lease restructuring. He also undertakes commercial property valuations on all types of commercial property for various clients including lending institutions, public bodies and private clients. Outside work, when time allows Duncan can be found on the water involved in sailing, hacking his way around the golf course or trying to stem the process of older age by playing football with mixed success.
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Robert DippleMRICS
Associate
Robert is an Associate, based in the Oxford office. He undertakes a wide range of work, including rent reviews, lease renewals, valuations, rating and day-to-day portfolio asset management of pro...
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Robert is an Associate, based in the Oxford office. He undertakes a wide range of work, including rent reviews, lease renewals, valuations, rating and day-to-day portfolio asset management of property throughout the UK, on behalf of private, corporate and charity clients and a number of leading banks. He deals with retail, office, industrial/warehouse properties and the valuation of residential developments. He has particular expertise and experience in portfolio asset management for clients owning multi-property portfolios. Robert is a keen squash player, enjoys cycling, running and always has a full order book of home DIY projects. He also risks life and limb each November, as a member of a team running his village firework display, which is recognised as being one of the best in the area.
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Colin ScraggFRICS
Partner
Colin is a Partner based in Trowbridge, having practised in the county town since 1988 dealing with all aspects of commercial property matters to include property acquisitions, disposals, landlord...
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Colin is a Partner based in Trowbridge, having practised in the county town since 1988 dealing with all aspects of commercial property matters to include property acquisitions, disposals, landlord & tenant matters and valuation advice to include secured lending being on all the main banks valuation panels. He has a detailed knowledge of the Wiltshire property market having advised a wide range of private, national and regional clients. Colin is a past President of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce and sits on the committee of Trowbridge Community Area Future. At the weekends Colin can be found coaching at Westbury Youth Football Club and Trowbridge Minis Rugby and if spare time allows he enjoys golf, watching Bath rugby and outdoor activities with his family.
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Paul MalamMRICS, FIQ
Partner
Paul is a Partner in the Minerals and Waste Management Division and provides specialist advice throughout the UK on all matters relating to minerals and waste management developments. In particula...
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Paul is a Partner in the Minerals and Waste Management Division and provides specialist advice throughout the UK on all matters relating to minerals and waste management developments. In particular, he offers advice on strategic development appraisal, site acquisition and disposal, planning and valuation on behalf of both operators / manufacturers and private landowning clients. He sits on the CBI Minerals Group and both the British Ceramic Confederation Rating panel and land and property group, representing clients interests and assisting in lobbying on policy affecting the sector. In his spare time, Paul enjoys long distance and hill walking, and recently led a Carter Jonas team on a 40 mile trek across the North Yorkshire Moors for charity. To relax, he enjoys watching Lancashire County Cricket Club, where he is a member.
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