Business Rates

Appealing against your rateable value

You may appeal if you think your rateable value is wrong. The process is known as making a proposal to alter the rating list and there are specific grounds for a proposal to be made.

A proposal to alter a list compiled on or after 1st April 2005 may be made at any time before the day on which the next list is compiled except in the following circumstances:.

Where a rateable value shown in the list by reason of an alteration made by a valuation officer, is or has been inaccurate - may only be made before the day on which the next list is compiled or within six months of the date of the alteration, whichever is the later;

Where the rateable value or any other information shown in the list for a property is shown, by reason of a decision in relation to another property of a valuation tribunal, the Lands Tribunal or a court determining an appeal or application for review from a valuation tribunal or the Lands Tribunal, to be or to have been inaccurate - may only be made within six months of the day on which the next list is compiled.

Please note that appealing against your rateable value is not accepted by Magistrates' Courts as reasonable grounds for withholding payment of your bill, either in full or in part.

 

This is because the Council is required to pay its contributions to the national pool on a monthly basis and has to borrow the money to pay these contributions if there is any shortfall.

 

If your appeal is successful and your rateable value is reduced, you can claim a refund for any overpayment that has been made. Provided that we have not had to take you to court to recover unpaid Business Rates, you will be entitled to interest on your overpayment.

 

If you want to make an appeal or want to know when your appeal will be dealt with, visit the Valuation Office Agency (this is an external hyperlink) website or contact our local Valuation Office at:

 

Southampton Valuation Office
2nd Floor
Overline House
Blechynden Terrace
Southampton
SO15 1GW
023 8053 8500

 

For further information please contact the Business Rates office on Tel: 01329 824651, or e-mail

 

businessrates@fareham.gov.uk.

 

Back to Business Rates Contents.