Business rates

Making sure your business is only paying what it should be

From check, challenge and appeal to empty rates mitigation, business rates are a complex, often stressful area for many businesses and finding the right direction can be bewildering.

In-depth knowledge and experience is vital in getting the best results and our team uses these skills to understand your needs and provide strategic and tailored solutions that are right for your business.

Working for occupiers, developers, and landlords in London and nationally, we operate across office, retail, and industrial and logistics sectors.

We also specialise in licensed and leisure properties, education, charities, infrastructure, and local and national government properties.  
 
No two jobs are the same. By working closely with you, we dig deep, taking time to understand your business needs and reviewing your different options.

Our payment service helps you plan ahead, pay your bills, check their accuracy and, where we see an opportunity, challenge rateable values to reduce your overall liability and claim refunds for both temporary reductions such as building works or for permanent value significant reasons such as the opening of a new shopping centre.
 
Our historic rate audits will identify any overpayments and if you have an empty building, our intermittent occupation strategies will help mitigate your business rates and save you money.
 
Whatever the route we recommend, we make sure it is right for you and do the heavy lifting to get the best value results.

Our bespoke approach is demonstrated by the projects showcased here with examples of significant reductions in occupational costs for occupiers and holding costs for landlords.   

Empty rates mitigation

After the initial statutory exemption, following the vacation of a commercial property, has been eroded the rate payer will be liable for 100% empty rates. We have various legal strategies which we can employ on your behalf to mitigate your financial liability.

Related news & opinion

Businesses must act now or face losing thousands in rates savings dating back to 1 April 2017
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The Local Government Finance Act 1988 introduced 5 yearly rating revaluations, the first being 1990 and this quinquennial cycle continued until 2010.
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The British Retail Consortium have reported that there has been a growth in high street retail sales from April to June rising 28.4% from a year ago and up 10.4% from 2019.
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Empty rate solutions: Opportunities to reduce the business rate on an empty property

If you are currently holding any vacant commercial property where your initial period of relief has been eroded or you are aware that you will be faced with an empty rate liability soon, it is important that you plan for this and maximise any savings available to you.
Does the budget go far enough on business rates?
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Does the budget go far enough on business rates?

The Chancellor delivered his budget for recovery this week. As expected, there was some help for business ratepayers, but not as much as was needed.
How will the budget affect business rate relief?
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The current business rates holiday has provided businesses, many of whom have been forced to close or suffered a significant impact on their income, with the means to fight for their survival.

Meet the team

Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

Gareth Buckley

National head of rating

T +44 (0) 161 521 5574
Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

Michael Hampton-Riddington

Partner, head of rating south

T +44 (0) 20 7408 1010
Mike Hampton-Riddington
Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

Ryan Jones

Partner, head of rating north

T +44 (0) 161 521 5570
Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

Tracy Steeden

Partner, business rating

T +44 (0) 20 7408 1010
Tracey Steeden

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