RVA Successfully Reduces Both 2023 and 2026 Lists Leading to £33,000 in Savings
Case study:
Asian Food and Produce Wholesaler | Greater London
Wholesaler for the Oriental food market across the UK and Europe, supplying produce to restaurants, markets, retail chains and more.
KEY
FACTS
£33,090
TOTAL SAVINGS
Warehouse
PROPERTY TYPE
May ’26
REVIEW COMPLETED
The Client
An Asian food and produce supplier with locations across England and Germany appointed RVA Surveyors to conduct an in-depth review of its business rates for two of its England-based properties ahead of the 2026 rating list.
It was during the inspection of their central office and warehouse located in Croydon that substantial savings were identified, leading to reductions in both the 2023 and 2026 rating lists.
The Issue
The previous assessment conducted by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) included a mezzanine and an associated area under a supported floor, bringing the total tone (m2) to 1,490.25 m² and with a rateable value (RV) of £111,000 in the 2023 rating list.
However, during the inspection of the property, RVA’s rating surveyor found that no mezzanine existed on the property and had been confirmed by the client that there had been no mezzanine present since taking occupation of the premises in April 2022.
A cold store within the warehouse area was also identified which had been installed just some months after our client took occupation, yet this was not reflected in the assessment for the 2023 rating list by the VOA.
The Solution
RVA carried out a full remeasurement of the property, prepared updated floor plans, and gathered photographic evidence of the warehouse, cold store, and office areas. The review revealed that the property’s total internal area had been significantly overstated, with the correct tone of the warehouse being 740.68 m² rather than the 1,490.25 m² previously recorded. Once finalised by our expert surveyor, this was compiled and submitted as a Check.
Although the Check was submitted prior to the start of the 2026 revaluation, the VOA did not issue its decision until after 1st April, by which time the property’s RV had increased to £136,000.
However, as the Check had been lodged before the new rating list took effect, it was possible for reductions to be applied to both the 2023 and 2026 rating lists.
The Outcome
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) accepted the Check and reduced the property’s rateable value (RV) for both rating periods. As a result, the RV for the 2023 rating list was reduced from £111,000 to £87,500, leading to a corresponding reduction in the 2026 rating list from £136,000 to £107,000.
By identifying inaccuracies in the VOA’s assessment and providing strong supporting evidence, RVA secured reductions to the property’s rateable value across two rating lists, helping the client achieve business rates savings of £33,090.48.
