Over £62,400 in Backdated Reliefs Saved Through RVA’s Audit Team
Case study:
Truch and Vehicle Dealer | Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands
A second-hand truck and vehicle dealer based in Stoke-on-Trent received backdated Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief through their business rates review with RVA Surveyors.
KEY
FACTS
£62,453.25
TOTAL SAVINGS
Land & Workshop
PROPERTY TYPE
June ’26
REVIEW COMPLETED
The Client
Based just outside Stoke-on-Trent city centre, our client is a reputable second-hand truck and commercial vehicle dealer, specialising in worldwide lorry exports. With over 30 years of experience and customers across more than 50 countries, they have built a strong reputation among businesses and lorry drivers alike.
The Challenge
At the start of the 2026 Rating List, our client instructed RVA Surveyors to inspect the property and determine whether any reductions could be made to their business rates liability. Following the initial inspection, our surveyor found no grounds to progress through the Check Challenge Appeal (CCA) process.
However, every property inspected by RVA Surveyors also undergoes a forensic review by our Audit Team to identify any additional opportunities for savings. During this review, they discovered the client may have been entitled to backdated Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief.
The Solution
From the start of the 2026 Rating List, our client began receiving the RHL Multiplier, as the premises qualified through the in-person sale of trucks and vehicles. However, when reviewing the property’s business rates history, our Audit Team identified that the client had also met the criteria for RHL Relief during the 2023 Rating List but had never received the relief they were entitled to.
Although RHL Relief was discontinued on 1st April 2026, businesses can still claim backdated relief, where eligibility exists, during the period it was available.
To support the application, our Audit Team gathered evidence demonstrating that customers could visit the premises to view and purchase trucks and commercial vehicles in person before submitting the claim to the local authority.
The Outcome
The application for backdated RHL Relief was a success, with the local authority awarding relief backdated to April 2023. This secured savings of £62,453.25 for our client.
While no reduction could be achieved through the Check Challenge Appeal process, our Audit Team’s detailed review identified an alternative opportunity that delivered a significant financial saving. With business rates continuing to place pressure on commercial properties, this successful claim has provided our client with valuable financial support heading into the 2026 Rating List.
