Check If You Could Be Paying Too Much in Business Rates
Many businesses assume their business rates are correct, but assessments can sometimes be higher than they should be.
Our free assessment tool helps identify whether there may be grounds for a professional review of your business rates.
We can check all the common situations:
Property issues affecting your premises
Your property may have disadvantages that affect its value or usefulness, such as:
- Poor access
- Lack of natural light
- Unusual layouts
- Restricted use of part of the building
- Areas originally designed for a different purpose
- See an example Property-Issues-Affecting-Your-Premises-Example
If these factors affect your property, they could justify a review of the assessment.
Local events and external factors
We can review documents relating to events or circumstances outside your premises that may have affected your occupation or use of the property.
Examples may include:
- Major construction works
- Road closures
- Access restrictions
- Environmental issues
- Other external impacts on your business location
- See an example Local-Events-and-External-Factors-Example
Nearby businesses appear to be paying less
Many business owners contact us because they have noticed that similar nearby properties appear to have lower Rateable Values.
If you have identified properties that you believe are comparable to yours, we can review the information and determine whether the difference may justify a professional assessment.
See an example Nearby Businesses Appear to be Paying Less
Business rates relief and discount check
Many businesses receive business rates reliefs, discounts and adjustments, but it is not always clear which schemes are already being applied to a bill.
Our Business Rates Relief Check reviews your rates bill and identifies:
- Reliefs and discounts already applied to the account
- Multipliers, supplements and adjustments affecting the calculation
- Property classifications that may align with specialist relief schemes
- Relief categories that may warrant further review with the billing authority
- No example needed – just use the rates bill issued by the local authority.
The assessment confirms what is shown on your bill and highlights potential review opportunities based solely on the information contained within the uploaded documents.
Examples may include Small Business Rate Relief, Supporting Small Business Relief, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief, Rural Relief, Charitable Relief, and other recognised business rates relief schemes.
How It Works
- Upload your document on PDF or word.
- Select the appropriate template from the drop-down, either Rates Relief Check, Property Review, Local Factors Review or Comparable Properties Review
- Our assessment tool identifies potential rating issues.
- If a review opportunity is identified and you would like support, please download using the 📥 on the API tool below and email the results to us on this link.
- Where appropriate, you can then discuss the matter with our rating specialists.
Important
The assessment is an initial screening tool only.
A potential opportunity does not automatically mean that your business rates will be reduced. Any review must be verified using the relevant property information, valuation evidence and rating records before a formal challenge can be considered.
Wondering if your rates are too high?
Upload your document and receive an instant assessment of whether a professional review may be worthwhile.