Business rates case studies

Les Croupiers Casino, Cardiff

Location: Cardiff
Client: Les Croupiers Casino Ltd

Our specialist knowledge of the leisure property sector earned us an instruction from Les Croupiers Casino Ltd in the appealing of their 2010 rateable value. Our negotiations with the Valuation Office Agency resulted in a reduction in rateable value of £21,000 backdated to 1st April 2010 and actual savings to the client of nearly £50,000 over a 5 year period.

Avon House

Location: Bromsgrove
Client: REI plc/UBC UK
Size: 25,000 sq ft

KWB reduced the overall rateable value by 24% of the UBC Serviced Office Centre on the 2nd floor of this 4-storey office building by challenging the unit rate and splitting the single assessment into individual assessments for the smaller offices. This not only produced a substantial refund but also meant that they could qualify for empty property relief for vacant periods and small business rates relief.

Unit 4 Wildwood Triangle

Location: Worcester
Client: Maximus/UBC UK
Size: 7,560 sq ft

KWB reduced the overall rateable value by 25% of this UBC Serviced Office Centre, which incorporated a large proportion of reception and circulation space within the single ratings assessment. By providing evidence of case law and nature of occupation, we successfully negotiated to split the building into separate assessments, thus reducing the rateable value and enabling empty property rates relief.

Rainbow Casino

Location: Birmingham
Client: Double Diamond Gaming Ltd
Size: 4,000 sq ft

KWB achieved a substantial rebate for their client’s premises in Edgbaston, following a successful appeal regarding the material change in trading conditions due to the smoking ban. As a result, we achieved a reduction in excess of £35,000 to their rateable value over a 3 year period, including a temporary removal from the rating list during the property’s extensive refurbishment.

The Coach House and adjacent offices

Location: Redditch
Client: Private owner occupier
Size: 3,825 sq ft / 5,856 sq ft

KWB successfully took this case to tribunal and reduced the rateable value for The Coach House from £38,000 to £28,500 which resulted in a saving in rates payable for the occupier of £17,000 over 5 years. We argued that the Stratford on Avon District Valuation Office was using values for offices in areas like Henley-in-Arden and Stratford-upon-Avon for a property that was effectively in the Redditch area. Following this decision, we have also now appealed and reduced the rateable value of the neighbouring office building from £63,000 to £42,000, with a saving in rates payable of nearly £50,000 over the next 5 years.

Want to know more?

Contact Martin Cook

0121 212 5993