MUA Property Services Ltd

Rates Audit

Under this heading MUA provide two services. On the one off audit MUA check either a single property or portfolio to ensure that the correct rates have been paid over a period of time. There is also the rate administration service in which MUA receive the demands and refunds and check them for accuracy before authorising them for the client.

One Off Audits

MUA were instructed to check the rate liability on a client's petrol station in Harrow which had recently had a cash machine installed. We discovered that Harrow Council, in common with many other councils, had misunderstood the regulations applicable to rate calculations on a split rating assessment. As a result they had overcharged our client by in excess of £20,000

Another client had two adjacent light industrial units merged into one assessment. Following the vacation of one of the units, we discovered that Medway Council had misinterpreted the Charging Regulations and were overcharging. Subsequent investigations showed that the Council had not given the empty unit industrial relief.

Rate Checking

MUA discovered Nottingham City Council had incorrectly identified one of our client's sites in the Rating List and had, for the last six years, been charging on a property that was across the road and had a higher rateable value than our client's property. MUA informed the council that they were charging incorrectly, thus securing large refunds for our client. We also informed the owner of the other site of relevant case law that enabled them to avoid paying the back-dated increase in their rate liability.

In 2005 the regulations for rate calculations became even more complex, causing even greater problems for Councils. We highlighted basic charging errors to several Councils, which not only resulted in savings to our clients, but also saved money for large numbers of ratepayers in those Billing areas.