How Rowland Burkitt Can Help You Appeal Your Business Rates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Business Owners

Many small business owners are overpaying on their business rates without even realising it. Whether your property has been over-assessed or market conditions have changed since your last valuation, appealing your Rateable Value can lead to significant savings.

At Rowland Burkitt Chartered Surveyors, we specialise in guiding businesses through the business rates appeal process from start to finish - with a clear, transparent fee structure and a proven track record of success. Here's how we work:

Step 1: Terms of Engagement & Information Gathering

• The process begins with a clear agreement on our Terms of Engagement. At this stage, we’ll request relevant documentation such as your lease, recent business rates bills, and, if applicable, trading information.
• Our fee structure is straightforward:
• A small, fixed fee covers our initial inspection and professional recommendations.
• If we proceed to a formal appeal, we then charge a commission-based fee - calculated as a percentage of any savings we secure on your business rates liability.

Step 2: Desktop Review & Property Inspection

• Next, we conduct a desktop review of your property and the surrounding market. This is followed by a site inspection, where we measure the property in accordance with the RICS Code of Measuring Practice (6th Edition) and take comprehensive photographs.
• The inspection is also a valuable opportunity to meet you in person, walk through the premises, and ask questions that help us build a clear picture of how the property is used.

Step 3: Analysis & Recommendations

• After the inspection, we analyse the information we’ve gathered. This includes:
• Reviewing your lease terms (if you’re a tenant)
• Assessing comparable rental evidence
• Examining the Rating List and how similar properties are assessed
• We typically provide our professional recommendations within 2 to 3 weeks of initial contact. At this stage, the fixed fee becomes payable.

Step 4: Appeal Process – Registration & Authorisation

• If we advise you to proceed with a formal appeal, we’ll help you through the next administrative steps:
• You’ll need to register your property on the Valuation Office Agency’s Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) portal - which we can help you with to ensure everything is set up properly.
• If your case involves discussions with the local authority, we may ask you to sign a Letter of Authority, so we can act on your behalf.
• Once this is done, you can leave the rest to us.

Step 5: We Handle the Entire Appeal Process

• From here, we take over the entire CCA process:
• We prepare and submit the Check (initial factual review)
• If necessary, we escalate to the Challenge stage (formal arguments and evidence)
• In rare cases, we may escalate your case to an Appeal, heard by the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE). To maintain our impartiality at the hearing, we will agree a fixed fee at that stage for preparing the Tribunal pack and representing you.
• Throughout every stage, we’ll keep you informed and guide you through what to expect - though in most cases, you won’t need to take any action beyond the initial steps.

Step 6: Only Pay Commission if We Succeed

• In most cases we are only paid our commission-based fee if we succeed in reducing your Rateable Value and achieve a saving on your business rates. If no reduction is achieved, no commission is charged.

Final Thoughts

• For small business owners, navigating the business rates system can be complex and time-consuming. At Rowland Burkitt, we simplify the process, advocate on your behalf, and aim to deliver meaningful savings with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.

If you think your business rates are too high—or just want peace of mind—get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.