VOA Issue - Important advice for Ratepayers

Our local Valuation Office is based in Exeter - details below:

Broadwalk House
Southernhay West
Exeter
Devon
X1 ITS

Tel: 03000 501501

Fax: 03000 500161

Email: southwestgroup.vo@voa.gsi.gov.uk

Web address: www.voa.gov.uk 

The VOA - Your First Port of Call

If you wish to query your rateable value, your first port of call should be your local Valuation Office. The VOA is able to resolve many queries without the need for an appeal. If queries cannot be resolved to your satisfaction at this level, you can lodge an appeal directly to the VOA from April 2010. This costs nothing. Staff are always available provide guidance through the appeal process. The VOA will send out a letter to acknowledge the receipt of any appeal, confirming how it will be taken forward. You can also lodge and track your appeal online via the VOA website .

There is also the government website www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk  which provides information on how rateable values are assessed, how bills are calculated and how the appeals process works.

Employing an Agent – Be Cautious

Some ratepayers may prefer to employ a rating agent. If this is the case, it is vital to be certain you are employing a professional and reputable agent. There are a number of recognised professional organisations that can put you in touch with a qualified rating surveyor.

Professional rating advice is available from members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Their telephone number is 0207 222 7000).

A free helpline is also available from RICS (0870 333 1600), where you will not be charged for the first half-hour of your consultation with a rating surveyor.

Reputable rating advice can also be obtained from The Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV - 0207 831 3505), and The Rating Surveyors Association (RSA). It is important to bear in mind that in most cases charges are levied for any professional rating advice acquired from these bodies right from the start.

If you do take advice from someone who does not belong to one of these professional bodies, or if you are approached directly by an agent, be on your guard. Large fees may be demanded upfront, or a large percentage commission taken on any saving finally made. It is also possible the savings promised may simply never materialise at all.

It is vital to read and understand the small print on any contract. Beware that there may be terms in the contract that could commit you to a given period of service - you may inadvertently be signing up for the next Revaluation.

Any reduction in your rateable value may not automatically translate into a reduction in your rates bill. The rateable value is a factor in the calculation of your bill; it is not the amount you pay. A reputable agent will not be able to guarantee you a saving without taking all factors into account.

Be informed: ask the agent detailed questions about likely costs incurred. Any reputable agent should be able to put you in touch with satisfied clients. Use an agent that is a member of one of the aforementioned professional bodies, and check their credentials.

Remember, if you do wish to query or appeal against your rateable value, you can do so directly with the VOA free of charge. If you wish to find out more, visit the VOA website  or contact your local Valuation Office for more information – details can be found on the website or in your local telephone directory.