Moving To A New Property?

At Cushman & Wakefield, we provide a wide range of services to help you find the right solution and achieve the maximum financial benefit.

Cushman & Wakefield offers a range of measures that allow occupiers to minimise liability for business rates:
Void Relief or Section 44a Phased Entry
For ratepayers entering new accommodation, a void relief strategy can be adopted. Unless previously exhausted by the landlord, we can make applications to the billing authority for three months of void rates relief (or six months if an industrial property) whilst the new occupier is undertaking fit-out works. If a tenant plans to enter a property in phases, then multiple Section 44a applications can be made to the billing authority, covering any discrete areas remaining vacant until physically occupied by the new occupier.

Reviewing the Rateable Value assessment
Once the premises are occupied, we can undertake in-depth analysis of rental and comparable evidence to deliver a detailed examination of the property’s Rateable Value assessment. This allows us to provide recommendations on how the property’s Rateable Value assessment might be challenged to reduce costs for your organisation.

Brand new property and deferring rates liability
When taking brand new premises, we will examine whether the occupier has immediate beneficial occupation: if not, we can defer rates liability. Similarly, where a Completion Notice is served with a date from which rates liability commences, we can enter negotiations to delay the completion date or make a formal appeal (subject to a strict time limit of within four weeks of receipt of the Completion Notice). Within Scotland, we also have a successful record of securing Business Growth Accelerator relief for 12 months in the case of new properties or new extensions to existing properties.

Liability estimates
When entering or considering proposals for new premises, we can prepare rates liability estimates to aid future financial planning.

Want to know more?
If you would like to find out more about our expertise or how we could work with your company, please contact a member of our Business Rates team at any time – we would be delighted to hear from you.