2017 Business Rate Revaluation - The Results Are In

30 September 2016

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The high level changes to rating assessments from the Valuation Office Agency’s 2017 revaluation are given below, categorised by region and property sector. In summary, total RV's in England will increase by 9.1% and fall by 2.9% in Wales.

Percentage change in rateable value by Region and Sector

Area Retail Industry Office Other All
England 4.7% 4.0% 11.3% 15.5% 9.1%
North East -6.8% 0.0% -12.5% 9.0% -1.1%
North West -5.5% -3.1% -4.8% 10.2% -0.2%
Yorkshire and the Humber -1.9% 0.4% -13.0% 6.6% -0.3%
East Midlands 4.7% 3.3% 7.8% 13.7%  7.2%
West Midlands -1.2% 3.1% -7.2% 12.0% 2.9%
East -4.0% 2.3% 2.4% 13.2% 3.9%
London 26.2% 15.1% 21.2% 25.7% 22.8%
South East 1.4% 6.5% 7.7% 17.5% 8.6%
South West -4.4% 5.4% -0.7% 12.1% 3.8%
Wales -8.8% -4.0% -7.0% 4.7% -2.9%

Source:VOA Administrative Data as at 01 August 2016

As a result of these movements, the uniform business rate (UBR) in England will fall from 0.497p to 0.467p and we estimate the UBR in Wales will increase from 0.486p to around 0.52p from 1st April 2017.

There will be a scheme of transition in England, phasing in the resultant increases and decreases in liability. Wales is considering a scheme but we think implementation is unlikely.

These figures, whilst interesting, summarise a wide range of movements in assessments on a micro level with wide variations in resultant liabilities.

The new assessments are available today which you can view by clicking here. We will confirm individual assessments over the course of next week, together with next steps. 

I have worked with Jeremy Symons over the past three years successfully leasing and buying property in support of my business. I continue to be very pleased with his knowledge of the market and expertise. Our relationship over this time has resulted in acquiring 20,000 sq ft at Capital Business Park in Cardiff, leasing 11,000 sq ft at Southpoint, and subsequently leasing an initial 42,000 sq ft at Parc Bedwas, followed by a succession of expansions of a further 11,000 and then 47,000 sq ft, enabling us to centralise all of our operations at Parc Bedwas in a single 100,000 sq ft facility. The acquisitions were completed at the perfect time for tenant purposes and the rent fixed throughout the term at very economical rates. A job well done.

Bob James, Aerfin