Property management company lands business rates savings with RVA Surveyors
Case study:
Property Management Company | Chester
Specialises in property development and management for businesses in aerospace, aviation, and related sectors.
KEY
FACTS
EIGHT MONTHS
ACHIEVED IN
£40,866
SAVINGS
Warehouse
PROPERTY TYPE
The Client
RVA surveyors engaged with a well-established manufacturing business located in Aviation Park, Hangar No 5,6 and 8 in Chester that was feeling strain of financial pressures. This was driven by escalating operational costs and a business rates liability that was higher than anticipated.
The client had been operating from a large industrial facility, which had been subject to a business rates assessment that they believed was unreasonably high.
The Problem
During our review, it became clear that the property’s Rateable Value (RV) had been assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) using outdated assumptions about how the facility was being used. Initially, the client had accepted the valuation without question, assuming the assessment was both accurate and fair.
However, the VOA’s assessment failed to reflect recent updates to the property’s usage. As a result, the RV was inflated, leading to a larger business rates liability than necessary. Moreover, because the client lacked the time and specialist knowledge to investigate or challenge the valuation, they had unknowingly continued overpaying for an extended period.
The Solution
RVA Surveyors carried out a comprehensive inspection of the properties, closely examining the layout, machinery, and storage areas. In addition, we compared the site to similar industrial properties in the region to establish a fair benchmark.
During this process, we identified clear discrepancies in the original valuation, especially in how functional spaces were classified and valued. These misclassifications significantly impacted the overall RV.
As part of the “Check” phase in the Check, Challenge, Appeal process, we built a strong case for the VOA. Specifically, we highlighted the errors in the assessment and argued that the RV did not reflect the actual use of the space. To reinforce our case, we included key supporting evidence such as photographs, floor plans, and usage documentation.
The Outcome
Furthermore, while on-site, our surveyor identified significant inconsistencies in the areas applied across the three properties occupied by the client. As a result of our submission, the VOA initiated a joint on-site inspection, conducted alongside their caseworker and our team.
Following the inspection, the caseworker confirmed that the areas previously used to determine the RV were inaccurate. Consequently, this led to a substantial savings for the client—solidifying the importance of expert intervention in complex valuation cases.
Hangar 5 – £15,951
Hangar 6 – £17,930
Hangar 8 – £6,985
Combined savings achieved: £40,866
Surveyor comment
“Conducting a thorough assessment across multiple properties is key to identifying hidden inaccuracies in valuations. We were able to secure significant savings for the client, ensuring they weren’t overpaying on their business rates. Unfortunately we see this happen far too often.”
