Business Rates In England And Wales

Federation of Small Businesses joins calls for business rates reform

31-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Small firms should not be penalised with a higher business rates bill for greening their premises or improving staff wellbeing with new amenities, while childcare providers should be granted rates relief, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said...

Hospitality businesses warned 'real hit' of business rates will come in April

20-Feb-2018 By Georgina Townshend

Hospitality businesses have been warned that the "real hit" of business rates is going to come in April - and could total as much as £75m - a figure "significantly higher than last year".

Number of business rates appeals 'drops 95%'

08-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Figures show the amount of companies that have asked the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) for their business rates to be checked has dropped by 95% from seven years ago, according to rent and rates specialists Altus Group.

'Wrongly banded' publican urges licensees to check their rateable value

15-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A publican whose business rates have almost doubled has claimed that despite being told by a Valuation Office Agency (VOA) officer he has been ‘wrongly banded’, he will still have to go through the highly criticised 'check, challenge, appeal'...

Letter template launched to help pubs ‘let down’ over business revaluations

05-Jul-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Publicans have been offered a template letter to send to their MPs to complain about the Government’s Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) website, which is “not fit for purpose”.

Business-rates appeals in limbo as website deemed ‘unfit’

10-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Thousands of businesses which are challenging their rates bill are "in limbo" as the Government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website is “unfit for purpose”, according to business, rent and rates specialists CVS.

Thousands of pubs’ business rates appeals ‘sitting in limbo’

03-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Business rates appeals submitted by thousands of pubs from 2010 are still waiting for a hearing, despite a new tax regime having started on Saturday, it has been revealed. 

Business rates

Pubs minister: ‘13,000 pubs potentially eligible for 100% small-business rate relief’

30-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubs minister Andrew Percy has revealed that 13,000 pubs could be eligible for complete small-business rate relief, following the Autumn Statement. 

Business Rates

Business rates hike will hit pubs warns Young’s CEO

11-Nov-2016 By Sara Hussein

An “exceptional” rise in business rates will have a detrimental effect on pubs, Young’s chief executive officer Patrick Dardis has warned. 

Business rates

Business rates revaluations shock high-turnover and south-east pubs

14-Oct-2016 By Oli Gross

The cat is out of the bag – the Government’s business rates revaluation has turned out to be a post-code lottery, providing small cuts in rates for a majority of licensees, but disproportionately hitting high-turnover pubs in the south-east with massive...

Business rates

Business rates hike: 'I think I may go out of business'

03-Oct-2016 By Oli Gross

Licensees have expressed fears that expected hikes in business rates next year are set to force them out of business.

Roadworks compensation

Works Must Pay: MPs throw weight behind roadworks campaign

20-Sep-2016 By Oli Gross

The Morning Advertiser’s roadworks compensation campaign, Works Must Pay, continues to gather momentum as MPs throw their weight behind the fight for a fairer system for pubs

Works Must Pay campaign

Call on your MP for roadworks help

04-Jul-2016 By Oli Gross

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) is stepping up its roadworks compensation campaign for pubs. Oli Gross reports.

Pubs minister: system for calculating business rates 'unlikely' to change

27-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Pubs minister Marcus Jones has said that the current system for calculating pub business rates is unlikely to change ahead of next year’s revaluation.

Legislation

Demand for fairer deal on rates

19-Nov-2015 By Mike Berry

Industry bodies have joined forces to demand a fairer deal for pubs on business rates in next week’s Autumn Statement.

Business rates

Pubs to be charged to appeal business rates as part of system shake-up

30-Oct-2015 By Mike Berry

Licensees wanting to challenge their business rates bills will have to pay a fee in future under new government proposals.

Honesty urged for new business rates

21-Sep-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The 2017 rates at your pub are being set soon. Michelle Perrett finds out why your details must be accurate.

Pubs 'will lose out' in next business rates revaluation

31-Mar-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs and restaurants risk losing out in the 2017 rating revaluation as the Uniform Business Rate (UBR) is likely to be set at 50p in the pound, a property advisor has warned.

'Root and branch' review of business rates launched

17-Mar-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The Government has launched its root and branch review of business rates.

Pubs warned over business rates info request

16-Mar-2015 By Mike Berry

Licensees have been urged to respond quickly to requests for information from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about their pub’s trading performance, if they want to avoid fines and unnecessary red tape.

New BBPA pub closure figures show 'damaging' MRO amendment 'not needed'

18-Nov-2014 By Mike Berry

As the pubs code legislation reaches a critical stage in Parliament today (18 Nov), new BBPA research shows that recent pub closure figures in the leased/tenanted sector are five per week, much lower than previously thought.

Demand for fair business rates

26-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Last week, more than 100 companies, including leading firms in the pub trade, signed an open letter calling for an overhaul of the business rates system. They labelled the tax as a “critical problem” that is “no longer fit for the 21st century”. Ahead...

Government ‘would consider business rates assessment change for pubs’

09-May-2014 By James Wallin

Community pubs minister Brandon Lewis has for the first time said the Government would consider changing the way business rates are assessed for pubs.

Business rates review 'to look at more frequent revaluations'

14-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

The Government has confirmed that it will look at whether business rates revaluations should occur more frequently and also examine the valuation methods.

Lincolnshire licensee seeks change of use to cut business rates

13-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Lincolnshire licensee is battling to change the use of his building from a pub to a nightclub, after estimating that the move would reduce his business rates by around £50,000 a year.

How to get a business rates reduction at your pub

19-Dec-2012 By Don Baker

All businesses in the leisure sector are facing hefty business rates charges, none more so than pubs. The annual increase in rates bills is running at odds with the wider economic conditions — property values and turnover are falling while business rates...

Pubs saved from an average 11% rise in business rates, show VOA stats

13-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs have been saved from an average 11% rise in business rates payments, following the Government’s announcement to push back revaluations by two years.

MPs attack plans to postpone the revaluation of business rates

31-Oct-2012 By John Harrington

MPs attacked plans to postpone the revaluation of business rates during a debate in Parliament yesterday.

Business rates revaluations: the real reasons for postponement

29-Oct-2012 By Jerry Schurder

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser revealed that the Government’s proposals to push back business rates revaluations by two years would harm thousands of licensees. This was met with dismay throughout the trade. Jerry Schurder, head of rating at Gerald...

Great British Pub Awards winner Lass O'Gowrie hits out at business rates system

04-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Great British Pub Awards Pub of the Year winner has hit out at the business rates system, calling it unjust and worse than VAT and beer duty.

MPs calling for fairer pub business rates for pubs need to clear in demands

26-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Politicians looking to improve pub business rates must make it clear what they are asking the Government for, according to business rates specialist Michael Yass, director at Chesterton Humberts.

MP urges action on pub business rates calculations

20-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A Conservative MP has called for action over the way that pub business rates are calculated, labelling the current system unfair for licensees.

MP vows action on fairer pub business rates calculations

14-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Business secretary Vince Cable’s new parliamentary private secretary has vowed to introduce a bill in Parliament to change the way business rates are calculated for pubs and small businesses.

Complaints stream in over pub business rates calculations

06-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Complaints over the way the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) calculates business rates have been streaming in, with licensees quoting rates bills increasing nearly three-fold.

Licensee's anger at business rates calculation

23-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A pub operator has accused the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of penalising him for doing well after his business rates bill rocketed from £12,000 per annum to £40,000.

Publicans urged to gather more trading info to help business rates appeals

16-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees are being warned to be more diligent with the information they gather when taking on a new pub, to help any future business rates appeals.

Pub landlords urged to be aware of local closures to help with business rate appeals

25-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees are being encouraged to make sure that they are aware of what is going on around their venues — such as major retailers closing down — to help with business rates appeals.

Pub trade counts £7m cost of rate appeals

27-Oct-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Almost 7,500 pubs are still waiting to appeal their 2010 business rates, costing the industry an estimated £7m each year.

Licensees face appeal woe

04-May-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees contesting their 2010 business rates could see their appeals thrown out if new, stricter deadlines are not met. Under old procedures the...

Pubs targeted by new wave of rogue rates agents

14-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

A new wave of rogue business rates advisors has been targeting pubs over their rates appeals. The news has only come to light as the Valuation...

Thousands of pubs set for rates boost

31-Mar-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Thousands of pubs will pay no business rates for another year — or will see rate relief double, from October. The Morning Advertiser can reveal...

Making business rates less taxing for pubs

10-Dec-2010 By Phil Mellows

Business rates are the third-largest cost for many small companies, but how can you ensure you aren't paying over the odds? Phil Mellows reports.

Pubs lodge raft of rates appeals

24-Nov-2010 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs are continuing to appeal against new business rate levels, with more than 2,000 appeals lodged since the end of June. The Valuation Appeals...

Rates holiday for pubs

01-Apr-2010 By Gemma McKenna

Thousands of pubs will pay no business rates for a year — or will see rate relief double — from October. The Morning Advertiser can reveal that...

Licensees warned over rates appeal accuracy

17-Mar-2010 By Matt Eley Matt

Licensees are being warned that even the slightest error in information provided about their business rates could effect their chance of a successful...

Pubs urged to check rateable values now

09-Mar-2010 By Gemma McKenna

Pubs should check the details of their rateable values now, before new bills come out at the start of April, warns the Valuation Office Agency (VOA)....

Pub rate cuts labelled as 'spin'

26-Nov-2009 By Gemma McKenna

One in five pubs promised big cuts in business rates will actually get much smaller reductions in the short term. More than 450 sites will not see...

Rateable value: How do you rate your chances?

24-Nov-2009

Every five years all commercial properties are revalued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to take into account shifts in value between UK regions...

Rates rises: your stories

05-Nov-2009 By Matt Eley Matt

Many licensees across the country are fearing the worst after receiving the new rateable value for their business. Following The Publican's front...

Pub rateable values rise 23%

29-Oct-2009 By Gemma McKenna

The average pub faces a 23% rise in its rateable value from 2010 — although the most they will pay is 11% more than this year's bill. That's according to a survey of almost 3,500 — or 10% of — leased and tenanted pubs in England and Wales.