/ Business Rates Appeals
Reduce your rateable value. Reclaim overpaid business rates.
RICS-qualified surveyors handle the entire Check, Challenge and Appeal process on your behalf — backdated refunds from 1 April 2023, lower rates for the rest of the 2023 rating list.
£18k
Average annual saving per property
62%
Of our appeals reduce rateable value
6 yrs
Of overpayments potentially recoverable
0%
Upfront fee
/ Grounds for Appeal
Six reasons your rates bill may be wrong
The 2023 revaluation reassessed every commercial property in England and Wales. The VOA bulk-valued nearly 2 million properties from desk data — errors are common, and overpayments are widespread.
Rateable value too high
Comparable properties in your locality are assessed lower per m². We benchmark against the VOA rating list and find the evidence.
Physical changes to the property
Building works, layout changes, partial demolition, change of use or new neighbouring development that materially affects value.
Material change of circumstances (MCC)
Roadworks, scaffolding, flooding, loss of footfall or anything outside your control reducing the property's rental value.
Factual errors in the assessment
Wrong floor area, incorrect zoning, missed reliefs, ignored vacancy periods, or mis-classified property use.
Empty / partial occupation relief
Unclaimed empty property relief, retail discount, small business rate relief or charitable relief on dormant space.
Transitional relief miscalculations
Errors in the transitional cap or supplement calculation following the 2023 revaluation. Often missed and worth £000s.
/ Process
Check. Challenge. Appeal. Refund.
The statutory Check Challenge Appeal (CCA) process is procedural and unforgiving — miss a deadline and the case is dead. We run the entire process end-to-end so you don't have to.
- 01
Free desktop review
Send us your latest rates bill and we run a free, no-obligation appraisal against the VOA list and comparable assessments in your locality. Result in 5 working days.
- 02
Check stage
We submit a formal Check on your behalf via the VOA portal, providing evidence of any factual inaccuracies in the assessment. The VOA must respond within 12 months.
- 03
Challenge stage
If the Check outcome is unsatisfactory we lodge a Challenge with full surveyor's report, comparable evidence and a proposed revised rateable value.
- 04
Appeal & tribunal
If still unresolved we represent you at the Valuation Tribunal. Our RICS-qualified surveyors handle the hearing — you don't need to attend.
- 05
Refund & ongoing savings
Your local authority refunds overpaid rates (often backdated to 1 April 2023) and your future bills drop to the new lower rateable value for the rest of the rating list.
/ Properties We Appeal
Every commercial property type
/ FAQ
Business rates appeals — frequently asked
How far back can I reclaim overpaid business rates?
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Successful appeals against the current 2023 rating list are backdated to 1 April 2023, generating a lump-sum refund from your local authority plus lower rates going forward. Older overpayments under the previous 2017 list may also be recoverable in limited circumstances.
How much does a business rates appeal cost?
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Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency basis — typically 25–30% of the saving we secure for you in year one. If we don't reduce your rates, you pay nothing.
What if my Check is rejected by the VOA?
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Most of our cases settle at Check stage, but if rejected we proceed to Challenge and, if needed, Appeal at the Valuation Tribunal. Our RICS surveyors represent you all the way — there is no extra fee for escalation.
Will appealing increase my rates?
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No. The Valuation Office Agency cannot increase your rateable value as a result of a Check or Challenge you submit. The worst outcome is no change.
How long does a business rates appeal take?
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Simple factual Checks settle in 3–6 months. Contested Challenges typically take 12–18 months. Refunds are paid by your local authority within 30 days of the VOA confirming a reduction.
Do I qualify for small business rate relief?
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If your rateable value is under £15,000 you may qualify for partial or full relief. We audit eligibility for SBRR, retail/hospitality discount, empty property relief, charitable relief and transitional relief as part of every appeal.
/ Free Rates Appraisal
Find out in 5 days if you're overpaying
Send us your latest rates bill. We run a free desktop review against the VOA list and comparable assessments — and only proceed to formal Check if there's a real saving on the table.
- RICS-qualified surveyors
- No upfront fee
- Refunds backdated to April 2023