It depends. 

We’re all about doing a professional job, and tailoring it to your requirements. If you want a flat valued just so you know how much it’s worth, we’ll always provide a full and detailed report that suits your needs – but it’s going to be a lot less work than valuing an industrial estate.  

For business rates, we usually charge on a percentage of savings basis. This is highly variable based on a number of factors like how much your property is worth, how much we think we might be able to save you and how certain we are of doing so.

Whilst it’s hard to say exactly how much, our prices are fiercely competitive. This reflects our confidence in our ability to predict the most likely outcome from the start, and our lower overheads as a small, specialist firm.

The only way to know for sure is to get in touch. We’re committed to providing you with a quote and a free, no obligation review and/or discussion of your requirements as fast as possible.

As with anything to do with tax, nothing is as simple as it seems.

Taxes like Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Inheritance Tax (IHT), Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) are carried out to a special, legally defined version of ‘Market Value’. This has some big differences from the Market Value you might be used to in the wider world, and these can have a massive effect on your value for tax purposes.

Business Rates are even more complicated, and there are several textbooks dedicated just to rates – one of which is said to be 6,000 pages long (we didn’t count). Did you know that fairgrounds don’t usually have to pay rates because they're 'too transient'?

Valuations for tax are complicated, and it’s vital that you make sure you instruct someone who understands the ins and outs of what they’re doing.

It’s very important to regularly review your property’s rates, to make sure you’re paying the right amount.

Rateable Values are set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). These values determine how the local authority calculates your rates bill and are checkable on the VOA’s website [https://www.gov.uk/correct-your-business-rates].

At Professional Valuation, we offer a free Business Rates check, with no obligation at all. All you have to do is provide us with a copy of your rates bill and we’ll go from there. Having your rates reviewed regularly ensures you’re paying the right amount, and provides reassurance to confidently plan for the future.

In most cases unoccupied properties must still pay Business Rates. The rates bill usually falls to the person or business entitled to possession of the property.

When a property first becomes vacant, you will likely be entitled to a 3 month, 100% relief period (or 6 months for some properties like industrial units). Once you, or someone else, have used that period, full rates are usually payable – as it is a relief ‘per property’ and not ‘per ratepayer’.

But that’s not to say nothing can be done.

There are numerous ways to reduce your liability –sometimes even resulting in no rates being payable at all.

If you find yourself paying vacant rates on a property, or are likely to in future, please contact one of our experts. We’re on hand to talk you through your options.

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