An Overview

The property is a public house in Newcastle upon Tyne. The works involved minimising the rate liability for the client throughout the redevelopment process. LSH’s proactive approach and specialist knowledge resulted in the client’s on-going rate liability on the property. This resulted in savings for the client of approximately £123,000. 

The Challenge

The client sought to minimise rate liability for the 2017 rating list and throughout the redevelopment process. LSH was instructed to advise the client on the best approach to challenge the assessment with the aim of providing financial savings to the client. 

Our Solution

LSH advised the client to lodge three challenges against the assessment:

1. Against the original rateable value as a public house.
2. Seek a reduction in the assessment to reflect the redevelopment works whilst the property continued to trade. 
3. Seek a reduction in the assessment once the property closed to allow for complete redevelopment.

The Results

This resulted in the Valuation Office Agency that the assessments should be deleted from the rating list to reflect full redevelopment. This eliminated the client’s ongoing rate liability on the property resulting in savings of just over £123,000. Due to the specialist advice LSH were able to provide, they are continuing to discuss other appeals in order to reduce the client’s liability further.