A number of firms in the South East, including day nurseries and sports centres, are taking a stand and saving themselves thousands of pounds, following successful appeals to the Valuation Office Agency.
Masterminded by Bruton Knowles’ Guildford office, the list of successful appeals have since inspired more day nurseries to step forward, as well as sports centres and offices.
Five of the day nurseries; Bambino in Buckinghamshire, Marlow Day Nursery, Kiddies Academy in Beaconsfield, Rainbow in Surrey and High Wycombe’s Monkey Puzzle, have already challenged their rating assessment through Bruton Knowles’ appeal the agency.
Now, Bruton Knowles’s Guildford office wants go further and seek more appeals on behalf of eight more day nurseries, including in areas Hertford, Princes Risborough, Hazlemere, Southwark and Chesham and another in Marlow.
Peter Beauchamp, a rating specialist who handles the appeals across the country, commented: “Our talents are not limited to day nurseries, and we have recently been instructed by Bucks Indoor Tennis Centre and from a firm with offices in Aylesbury.
“Our appeals on behalf of Bambino and Marlow day nurseries in Buckinghamshire, and Rainbow Day Nursery in Surrey have achieved significant reductions, averaging in excess of 30 per cent.
He goes on to say that for the nurseries mentioned, saving in the life of the Rating List are in excess of anything between £13,000 and £90,000.
Mr. Beuchamp continues: “If you believe them to be excessive, it’s never too late to challenge your business rates, which remain one of the biggest costs firms face after staff wages.
“We were able to achieve satisfactory outcomes for a number of day nurseries, saving them thousands of pounds off their business rates bill.
“By checking the Valuation Office Agency website we can judge, from professional skill and experience, whether any day nursery’s rateable value is excessive.”
When an appeal is successful, it provides a lump sum refund and reduced rates bills.
Bruton Knowles don’t charge a fee if the rating value checked does not turn out to be excessive.
