Metal processing company lowers business rates numbers with RVA Surveyors
Case study:
Aluminium Supplier | West Midlands
Is a family-owned company with over 80 years of experience in the glass industry specialising in manufacturing premium quality, high-performance insulated glass units, including double and triple glazed units.
KEY
FACTS
9 MONTHS
ACHIEVED IN
£4,299
SAVINGS
Warehouse
PROPERTY TYPE
The Client
Our client specialises in manufacturing premium-quality, high-performance insulated glass units. These include double and triple-glazed units, Supaslim Heritage Units, decorative glass, and integral blinds.
Located at 505 Garretts Green Lane, Birmingham, the client is a family-owned business with over 80 years of experience in the glass industry. Over the years, their commitment to quality and safety has made them a trusted provider in the sector.
Because of their long-standing focus on operational efficiency, ensuring they were paying accurate business rates became a crucial step in maintaining financial sustainability.
The Problem
The client’s premises consisted of two merged properties. Notably, each property served a different function within their operations. However, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) had assessed the combined site as a single unit for business rates purposes.
This assessment, however, did not reflect the true usage or characteristics of the individual buildings. As a result, it led to a higher overall Rateable Value (RV) and inflated business rates. Understandably, the client grew concerned that this over-assessment was causing them to overpay—thereby affecting their financial efficiency.
The Solution
RVA Surveyors conducted a comprehensive inspection of the client’s property usage and gathered substantial evidence demonstrating the distinct functions of the two merged properties. We then applied to the VOA for a “divide and split” allowance, advocating for the separation of the properties into individual assessments.
Our submission included detailed justification for a 5% dividing split unit allowance, reflecting the specific characteristics and uses of each property.
The Outcome
The VOA reviewed our application and, based on the compelling evidence provided, granted the divide and split allowance. This decision allowed the separation of the properties into two distinct assessments, each with an appropriately reduced rateable value.
As a result, the client experienced a significant reduction in their business rates for both properties, leading to improved financial efficiency and ensuring they were paying fair and accurate rates.
Savings achieved: £4,299
Surveyor comment
“By securing the divide and split allowance, we ensured the client’s properties were accurately assessed based on their distinct uses, leading to fairer business rates and valuable cost savings.”
