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Business rates

Saving you money on your rating liability

We understand that business rates represent a significant cost for your business and that navigating this increasingly complex area can be challenging.

Our team of 11 business rates experts based across the UK make it their business to help occupiers of commercial property, developers and investors to save money on their business rates.

From challenging and reclaiming historical overpayments and assessing your current liability, to helping you to plan for the future, our business rates experts can help.

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Trusted By

We work all types of organisations from SMEs with one property to investors and large corporates with extensive portfolios, including St John Ambulance and JoJo Maman Bébé.

We cover a range of asset types, from industrial, logistics and offices, to marine and leisure property and have taken care of clients across the length and breadth of the UK.

Having reached somewhat of an impasse with the valuation officer ourselves, we were delighted that, with just two weeks until our case was heard at tribunal, Vail Williams came on board and completely turned things round for us. They pulled together an excellent argument at very short notice and got the result that we knew we deserved.

Adam Park, Chief Operating Officer, Renaissance Capital Partners.

Our services

Rating audit

Many businesses are unaware that they have overpaid their business rates in the past. We can audit your business rates to check rate demands have been calculated correctly and make claims for overpayments on your behalf.

Rating assurance review

Our rating experts will ensure you pay only what is rightfully due on your properties.

Check, Challenge, Appeal

If there are grounds to challenge your rateable value, our rating experts will do so, managing the complex appeal process introduced for the 2017 rating list.

Rating relief review

From empty rates relief when you vacate a property to retail rate relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we will explore all potential reliefs open to your business, to save money on your business rates.

Disturbance refunds

If your business is being impacted by development or refurbishment works, you are entitled to rates relief based on what is known as a ‘material change in circumstance’ and we can lodge an appeal on your behalf.

Strategic advice and Empty Rates

Drawing on expertise from across the firm, we provide strategic advice, to review under-utilised space as well as exploring opportunities to split or merge properties.

“Vail Williams were clear, concise and proactive. Their application to the Council was accepted first time, creating a saving of over £70,000 over the current valuation period, far more than we anticipated. Needless to say, we were very pleased!”

Charles Hylton-Potts, Partner, Peacock & Co. Solicitors.

Complete our business rates questionnaire

We will contact you to discuss ways we can help – on a no-obligation basis.

Complete our questionnaire

Key people

Lead contact
Adam Barnfield

Partner and Head of Business Rates

Birmingham

+44 (0)121 654 1065

+44 (0)7875 536002

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Danny George

Partner and LLP Member

CrawleyBrighton

+44 (0)1293 612600

+44 (0)7931 329069

LinkedIn
Sam Hill

Partner

LondonReading

+44 (0)20 3589 0050

+44 (0)7734 330263
Simon Moffatt

Partner

London

+44 (0)20 3589 0050

+44 (0)7557 767375

LinkedIn
Derek Moore

Associate

Crawley

+44 (0)7979 708525
Nigel Katseph

Associate

London

+44 (0)20 3589 0050

+44 (0)7828 288144

LinkedIn
Claire Shuttleworth

Senior Surveyor

Birmingham

+44 (0)121 654 1065

+44 (0)7717 578358

LinkedIn
Matt King

Referencer

Crawley

+44 (0)1293 612600

+44 (0)7786 736077

LinkedIn

Our work

EMED Group, multiple site acquisitions
Case Study
Ingeus UK Limited
Case Study
Nest Investments Property Limited
Case Study
KINTO UK Limited
Case Study
Sedex
Case Study
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