Sep 2016

  1. Government announces draft UBR and Transitional Arrangements for England

    The Government has issued a consultation on the transitional arrangements for the 2017 business rates revaluation. Representations should be made by  the 26th October 2016 to the DCLG.

    The highlights from the document are:

    1. The current UBR poundage is forecast to drop in 2017/18 to 48.0p in the £ down from 49.7p in 2016/17
    2. From 2018/19 annual uplifts will be based on RPI
    3. “Global” rateable value for England for the 2017 List increases by
    … Read more

  3. More Consultation, More Bad News

    In August 2016 the Government published Check, challenge, appeal Reforming business rates appeals – consultation on statutory implementation.

    This is a consultation document designed to produce the specific regulations to put flesh on the bones of the Enterprise Act 2016 (see our previous news article of July 2016).

    The main points to note for ratepayers are; proposals to give the Valuation Office Agency a “margin of error”, within the range of which the … Read more

  4. MUA Response to Check Challenge Appeal consultation Part 2

    Consultation – Check Challenge Appeal

    Part 2 of 2;

    Dear Danielle,

    These are the representations of the machinery Users’ Association Inc., representing the interests of commercial property users, and MUA Property Services Ltd (Chartered Surveyors), the latter representing ratepayers directly within the appeals system.

    I am making my comments in two parts. This email concerns the general bulk of the document, excluding the “Determining Appeals” section.

    Q1; we do not tend to comment on detailed … Read more

  5. MUA Response to Check Challenge Appeal consultation Part 1

    Business Rates Appeal Reforms Part 1 Consultation – Check Challenge Appeal Part 1 of 2; Dear Danielle,

    These are the representations of the machinery Users’ Association Inc., representing the interests of commercial property users, and MUA Property Services Ltd (Chartered Surveyors), the latter representing ratepayers directly within the appeals system.

    I will be making my comments in two parts. This email concerns the “Determining Appeals” section; paras 30 – 32 of the consultation document. I … Read more