“Amazon” tax won’t solve problem of business rates for retailers

By Stuart Hicks, Director. Prime Minister hopeful Matt Hancock has decided to go for the populist vote with his latest idea to “save” thousands of retailers from the cost of business rates. The Secretary for... Continue reading

Biggest business rate payers in England and Wales revealed

A mix of airports, energy suppliers and retailers have the unenviable honour of topping this year’s list for having the biggest business rates bill in the UK this year. More than £705m will be handed... Continue reading

ATM business rates’ case heading back to court

By Stuart Hicks, Director The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has won the right to appeal the Court of Appeal judgement concerning the rateability of the sites of cash machines outside and within retail premises. The... Continue reading

BREAKING NEWS – Key judgment in Telereal Trillium v Hewitt 2019

Telereal Trillium (Respondent) v Hewitt (Valuation Officer) (Appellant) [2019] UKSC 23, On appeal from: [2018] EWCA Civ 26. JUSTICES: Lord Reed (Deputy President), Lord Carnwath, Lady Black, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Briggs. BACKGROUND TO THE APPEAL:... Continue reading

Worst performing UK high streets revealed in latest retail report

Pressure is still increasing on the Government to take action on business rates after the latest national town centre vacancy rate reached 10.2% last month, the highest year on year recorded rate since 2015. The... Continue reading

RSA response to latest Government business rates’ inquiry

By Stuart Hicks, Director  The Rating Surveyors’ Association (RSA) has published its response to the Government’s current inquiry on how business rates policy has impacted business with some interesting recommendations. The latest inquiry was set... Continue reading