Our Rating Specialists are RICS qualified Surveyors who have been providing professional expert advice to clients on rating appeals since the introduction of the new rating system in 1990.

As the Valuation Office Agency has now published the latest 2010 list our team are advising clients on appeals and general rates management issues.

Empty properties can be a financial headache for most landlords, especially as empty property business rates relief is now severely limited. In the Chancellors 2009 pre budget report the government announced that from 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011, no rates will have to be paid on a business property with a rateable value (2005 list) of up to £18,000. However, from 1st April 2011 the rateable threshold below which empty properties can exempt from rates will revert to its normal level. This was previously £2,200 (to 31/3/2009) but will be updated to around £2,600.

In addition to Business Rates, we also conduct Surface Water Drainage appeals on behalf of our clients. Both surface water and highway drainage are parts of the sewerage rates levied on businesses. Typically of interest to larger industrial warehousing companies, Landwood are able to look at the site and see if reductions can be made to surface water charges.

A carefully thought out rates appeal can produce big savings so contact the rating team today.