Business rates
We reduce bottom line costs and maximise savings for occupiers and investors through a comprehensive, tailored and proactive rating service across all sectors and commercial property classes.
For clients, we ensure their rates liability is as low as possible by:
- Lodging appeals and liaising with rating authorities
- Applying for reliefs
- Handling rates portfolio management
- Completing rating forms
- Checking bills
- Leveraging changing circumstances
- Conducting rates audits
Our proactive management will give you peace of mind and the ability to budget. If you want to know what your likely bill might be, use one of the Ryden rates liability calculators.
Rating Revaluation
A Rating Revaluation is carried out to ensure that Rateable Values keep pace with the changes in the property market. A right of appeal against the Rateable Value is permitted in accordance with statutory terms and timescales.
The next Revaluation of all non-domestic property will take effect from 1 April 2021 in England, 1 April 2022 in Scotland and three yearly thereafter.
Barclay Review
The Barclay review group was set up to make recommendations to enhance and reform the business rates system in Scotland. In September 2017, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay confirmed he would implement the vast majority of proposals. A detailed overview of the reforms is available here. The reforms which have been implemented from 1 April 2018 are:
- Pre-school nursery relief
- Expansion of Fresh Start Relief
- New Start Relief replaced with the Business Growth Accelerator relief
- Transitional Relief for certain hospitality properties and Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire offices extended for another year
- Revaluations at three yearly intervals after 2022
Further information on reforms can be found in our guide to Business Rates: Key Terms and Reliefs
Rates Mitigation
Rates mitigation schemes are a potential option for those commercial property owners affected by the abolition of or reduction in rates relief from 1 April 2016. Many, especially those with properties in the industrial sector, have seen their rates bill rocket and some have no option but to consider demolition.
Ongoing careful management of rates is essential to ensure bills are carefully calculated and that all refunds, relevant reliefs and exemptions are secured. At Ryden, our payment system ensures that demands are assessed and only correctly calculated bills are paid. We are advising clients facing huge hikes in rates that a short-term rates mitigation strategy might be an option.
The relevant strategy depends on the type of property and location but could reduce bottom line property costs and maximise the savings on rates bills.
Our Rating team can arrange a free consultation for your property/portfolio to investigate if you can substantially reduce the amount you pay in rates.
