Find out about rating advisors

Use a rating advisor to challenge your rateable value or obtain business rate relief

Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about their rateable value, appeals, reliefs, or their rates bill. All of these can be done free of charge. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be aware that members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Rating Surveyors Association, and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct and ethics designed to protect the public from misconduct and overcharging.

Before you employ a rating advisor, you should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance.

Take great care and, if necessary, get further advice before entering into any contract or agreement. The Government provides detailed advice on choosing a rating advisor, and lists advisors that the Valuation Office Agency does not deal with due to misconduct.

Cowboy rating advisors may well be cold calling in your area, offering big savings on your business rate bill. These operators are highly unlikely to be professionally qualified and may make fraudulent promises to secure large reductions in your rates bill, to obtain early payments of up to several hundred pounds from you!

Once you have paid them, you are unlikely to be able to seek redress, except through the courts, and an ill-considered appeal could even increase your rates bill.

Claims to check:

1. "We have a team of qualified professionals". Do they? Check the firm and the individuals with the professional bodies listed above.
2. "We have achieved by %%% reductions for several clients". Demand the names and telephone numbers of past clients and ring them to check.
3. "We can get huge %%% reductions on your property". If they make these claims before making a full investigation of your property, they may be 'cowboys'.
4. "You will have nothing to pay unless we succeed". Whatever the salesperson may say, demand to see a copy of their contract. Free advice can be obtained from the RICS helpline number 024 7686 8555. Be careful if the contract entitles the firm to a percentage of the reduction in Rateable Value. This may not necessarily lead to a saving in the rates you have to pay.