Appeals against Rateable Value

You can appeal against the rateable value shown for your property in the 2005 Rating List, at any time before the next revaluation at 1 April 2010.

Appeals can no longer be made for entries in the 1990, 1995 and 2000 Rating Lists unless you are appealing against an alteration made by the Valuation Officer.

You can appeal if, for example:

You should make an appeal as soon as possible, as there are rules which apply in certain circumstances which prevent alterations in the Rateable Value from being backdated prior to the current years rating list. For a complete list of grounds for an appeal, see the Valuation Office Agency website.

Who can appeal?

You can appeal against the rateable value of a property if you are:

• the occupier, or
• you have a legal interest in the property, e.g. owner, leaseholder, tenant etc.

How do I appeal?

If you think the rateable value of your property is wrong you should contact the Valuation Officer at:

Valuation Office Agency
Crown House
Birch Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 4DS

Tel: (01902) 438300
Fax: (01902) 438399
E-mail: westmidlandsgroup.vo@voa.gsi.gov.uk Web Site: http://www.voa.gov.uk

Any proposal to change the rateable value of your property should include:

• your name and address,
• your interest in the property, i.e. whether you are the occupier, owner or tenant etc.,
• why you think the rateable value shown in the Rating List is wrong.

Alternatively, a proposal can be completed on line at the Valuation Office Agency website.

You may use an agent to handle your appeal if you wish. You are advised to contact a reputable firm of estate agents or chartered surveyors if you are going to seek valuations advice.

If the Valuation Officer agrees that the rateable value of your property is incorrect, the Valuation List will be altered and the Council will issue you with a revised bill in accordance with our Customer Service Standards.

If the Valuation Officer does not agree with your proposal, or if no decision is made within 3 months the matter will be referred as an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Do I have to pay if I have an appeal outstanding?

You must continue to pay your Business Rates whilst any appeal is pending, otherwise recovery action will continue and you may receive a summons. If your appeal is successful all overpaid Business Rates will be refunded on request, usually with payment of interest.

Completion Notices

Completion Notices are issued by the Council to identify the date when work on a new building or conversion should be complete. If the Council believes that work on a property can reasonably be completed within the next 3 months, a completion notice can be issued stating the date of completion. The significance of a completion notice is that it determines the date from which the unoccupied property exemption will start, after which time Business Rates will become payable provided the property remains empty. Certain types of property are exempt from empty property rates, see Unoccupied Property Rating.

If you are sent a completion notice, with which you disagree, you can appeal direct to the Valuation Tribunal within 4 weeks of the notice being sent. Alternatively, you can contact the Council to discuss a revised completion date.

What is a Valuation Tribunal?

You will be notified by the Valuation Officer if your appeal is referred to a Valuation Tribunal. Valuation Tribunals are wholly independent of the local Council and the Valuation Office, however the members of the Tribunal are experienced in hearing Business Rates appeals. The Tribunal will contact you in order to arrange a date for the hearing. A Tribunal hearing will not cost you anything unless you choose to employ someone to present your case.

The Tribunal will take into consideration the case put forward by both parties before deciding the outcome of the appeal. If both parties agree, your case can be dealt with by written representation, without you having to attend a hearing.

If the Tribunal upholds your appeal, the Valuation Officer will have to alter the Valuation List and the Council will issue you with a revised bill in accordance with our Customer Service Standards.

The Valuation Tribunal's decision is normally final, however an appeal may be made to the High Court, but only on a point of law.