Professional Advice

The need for professional advice before submitting a rates appeal cannot be over-emphasised.  Many assessments are correct and some are even too low.  BNE have, on a couple of occasions been called in by ratepayers who had either appealed without advice or had been persuaded to appeal by firms from outside the area, which had led to increases in rates liability. “I recall in one case, a client’s rates liability more than doubled and was backdated for several years, which threatened the company’s very existence.  In this case we were able to substantially mitigate the increases” said Chris Noble “but this would not always be the case.”

It does not cost you anything to have your rates liability checked prior to an appeal as BNE will investigate it without charge and recommend an appeal only if it is appropriate to do so.  Those interested should contact either Chris Noble ACIArb FRICS or Stephen Edwards FRICS.