RVA Surveyors Successfully Reduces Liabilities Over £15,200 for Client!
Case study:
Construction and Facilities Management | Bristol
Construction and facilities management specialists based in Bristol assigned RVA Surveyors to review their current business rates before the start of the 2026 Revaluation.
KEY
FACTS
£15,208
SAVINGS
Office
PROPERTY TYPE
The Client
Based in the City of Bristol, our client have been industry experts in the construction sector for over 25 years working with organisations across the country including healthcare, leisure & retail, commercial redevelopment and more.
They assigned RVA Surveyors to conduct an in-depth review of their business rates to understand if additional savings could be made.
The Problem
Our client has occupied three floors of office space in their current premise since August 2023. But in August 2024 they sub-leased a section of the second floor to a separate company. In all commercial properties across England and Wales, if there is more than one business occupying the property they should be assessed independently.
However, our client was still paying liabilities for the section of the second floor that had been sub-leased, leading to a significant overvalue of our clients’ Rateable Value.
The Solution
It was during RVA Surveyors’ inspection of the property that this was discovered, which if not found, would have led to further increases in our clients’ liabilities during the 2026 revaluation.
Once our expert surveyor completed their inspection, relevant evidence was compiled and submitted to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) as a Check to Split. Copies of the client’s lease, sub-lease for the separate business, photographs and updated floor plan were all given as evidence to substantiate the client’s case.
The Outcome
Once the submission of evidence was submitted, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) accepted the request to split leading to a sizeable reduction in business rates for our client from £70,000 to £53,000, with total savings of £15, 207.64 dating back to August 2024.
By splitting the property before the start of the 2026 revaluation, our client’s business rates now reflect their use of the property while also reducing their historic, current and future liabilities.
