Neil Robertson: Rateable values and the beautiful game

Many are facing increases at least in double figures. 'How can my rateable value be so high? What has the Valuation Office based this figure on?'

Well, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) bases the rateable value of a business on turnover and is working with figures submitted by licensees up to 1st April 2008, i.e. before the smoking ban and other recent changes to trading conditions had taken their toll on the trade.

Of course, it is possible to appeal the values assigned to an outlet. They can either be challenged straight away - and you have a right to challenge the current rateable value until 31st March - or licensees can submit a formal appeal after 1st April 2010.

We have issued a stark warning to members to be vigilant to the many "cowboys" that are out there trying to make a fast buck out of other people's distress. These nasties are clever and often the scam is in the small print, so beware. Expert advice is close at hand.

Tied pubs can contact their area manager for assistance and access to the services available to them (they're often free), whereas free pubs can come to BII for help. We have a panel of experts lined up to operate on a "no reduction, no fee" basis and one of our members has just secured over £30k in refunds as a result of going through this process. Worth the phone call, I'd say.

We're organising a series of seminars around the country to help licensees (whether or not they're BII members) to understand the rates system and what to do if they're facing a huge bill that they can't afford - or don't agree with.

Experts from Fleurets and Robert Clarke will be presenting at each of the events and they will be joined by a representative of the VOA who will explain the basis of valuations of licensed property for the 2010 Rating List. They will also emphasise the importance of ratepayers making an informed choice if they feel there is a need to seek expert advice.

Everyone involved is seeing this exchange of views as an opportunity to start an open dialogue between rating surveyors and valuation officers with the hope of addressing any issues before they become issues.

After we've dealt with the somewhat dry subject of rates, our 'Seminar of Two Halves' events will then feature a presentation by Carlsberg on how to get the best out of the World Cup.

We're running the seminars in 11 locations over the next six weeks and we've kept them deliberately short, sweet and cheap to cause minimal disruption to your business but maximum value for money. I promise it'll be a tenner well spent. More info at www.bii.org/rates ​