Business Rates

Managing business rates is a crucial yet complex undertaking for property occupiers, owners, and developers in the United Kingdom. Business rates represent one of the largest costs associated with non-domestic properties, and without expert guidance, your organisation could be overpaying or missing critical saving opportunities.

At Cushman & Wakefield, we provide a fully integrated approach to business rates advisory, leveraging our expertise and insight to minimise liabilities and maximise cost savings.

Why Choose Cushman & Wakefield for Business Rates Advice?

Our team of rateable value experts operates across the UK with a deep understanding of local and national property markets. From London to Glasgow, we combine on-the-ground market insight with specialised expertise in rating and valuation. With a forward-thinking approach, we continually adapt to changes in the legislative and property landscape, ensuring your organisation stays ahead of potential challenges and opportunities.

Here’s how we help:

1. Comprehensive Support – From rateable value assessments to identifying cost-saving measures, we offer a tailored solution for your business.
2. Proven Results – Our expertise in challenging and reducing business rates ensures significant savings, even in complex valuation cases.
3. Future-Proofing – We anticipate market and legislative dynamics to secure long-term savings.

Approach to Business Rates

Navigating complex business rates legislation, ensuring accurate liability assessments, and uncovering savings opportunities demand deep expertise. Without specialist knowledge, businesses often overpay rates or fail to recover refunds they’re entitled to.

Cushman & Wakefield’s team of business rates agents offers both tailored and fully outsourced solutions to help your organisation achieve savings. Whether addressing existing properties, managing newly occupied spaces, or negotiating relief on vacant properties, we ensure you pay only what’s necessary.
Key Benefits of our Service:

• Maximum Savings: Achieve significant reductions in your business rates liability with expert support throughout the appeal and exemption processes.
• Customised Service: Choose between a fully managed rates service or a bespoke solution tailored to specific requirements.
• End-to-End Financial Management: From budgeting to refunds, we handle the financial complexities of business rates for stress-free management.
• Proactive Compliance: Stay up-to-date with regulatory changes and anticipate the implications of revaluations or legislative shifts.
• Empowered Decision-Making: Benefit from actionable insights based on market intelligence, case law, and rental evidence.

Business Rates Advisory Services

Business Rates Review and Appeal

Business rates can be a significant financial burden. Our business rates valuation services carry out detailed reviews of Rateable Value assessments to ensure they’re accurate and fair. Where assessments are higher than they should be, we manage the entire appeals process to achieve reductions and backdated refunds.

• Opportunities to Appeal: Whether your property is in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, we navigate strict deadlines and manage the appeal process on your behalf.
• Expert Advocacy: If necessary, we represent your interests at Valuation Tribunals or other legal forums to maximise savings.

Rates Relief and Exemptions

Our specialists have extensive knowledge of statutory reliefs available for vacant properties, properties undergoing redevelopment, or phased entry into newly occupied spaces. We identify all possible exemptions, including void relief, Section 44a phased relief, and intermittent occupation strategies.

• Vacating a Property: Minimise liability during lease ends or void periods by leveraging statutory reliefs or phased occupancy strategies.
• Moving to a New Property: Ensure reduced rates liability during fit-out and phased occupation by applying for appropriate reliefs.

Rates Management and Audit

Comprehensive rates management is critical for reducing liability and administrative costs. Our service ensures that budgets, payments, refund recovery, and exemptions are handled seamlessly:

• Demands, Payments and Refund Recovery: We validate every demand, handle payments, and expedite refunds due to your organisation.
• Historic Rates Audit: Business rates legislation is complex. Our team conducts forensic audits to recover overpayments, often uncovering significant funds owed to your organisation.

Innovative Strategies for Cost Reduction

We utilise cutting-edge tools like our Rating App, which allows clients to quickly notify us of material property changes affecting their Rateable Value. This ensures fast action to secure potential savings.

Sector-Specific Experience

Business rates liabilities vary significantly across property types. Our expertise spans offices, retail, industrial, logistics, leisure, healthcare, education, and specialist assets like public sector facilities. No matter the sector, our specialists deliver precision-focused strategies tailored to your needs.