Thousands of pubs caught up in business rates appeals backlog

That’s according to exclusive data revealed to the Publican’s Morning Advertiser by business rates firm CVS, using figures from the Valuation Office Agency.

CVS worked out the figures as it believes there are 5,890 outstanding appeals on pubs, which it claims could achieve an average 17% reduction in business rates. The company has also raised concerns that the numbers could be much higher as it believes there are more pubs that have not had their appeals heard for the 2005 rating list.

The news comes as a further blow to the pub industry after the Government announced it is to push back business rates revaluations by two years to 2017.

The PMA revealed that this could have a negative impact on thousands of pubs because the rates are based on 2008 figures.

CVS’s national head of rating Don Baker blamed the slow progress on the “cumbersome bureaucracy in the current appeals system”.

He said: “What businesses need is a business rates system that is fair, efficient and responsive to ratepayer appeals. We do not currently have that and many businesses, especially pubs, are the real victims of backlogged appeals and over-the-odds rates charges. We want to see a rates appeals system that works for businesses rather than against them.

“Put simply, the Government should be working to remove the cumbersome bureaucracy in the current appeals system. The professionals need to be empowered on either side of the table to negotiate and reach agreements so that ratepayers receive rate refunds quickly to support their businesses. This needs to be a top priority for Government, not something that can be kicked down the track like the business rates revaluation now proposed for 2017.”

Last year the PMA reported that nearly 7,500 pubs were waiting for their business rates appeal to be heard, costing the industry an estimated £7m.