Machine specialist reduces business rates with RVA Surveyors
Case study:
Machine Specialist | East of England
Specialising in supplying new and used agricultural, construction, and commercial machinery, from mini-excavators and dumpers to generators and telehandlers, backed by over a decade of experience.
KEY
FACTS
4 MONTHS
ACHIEVED IN
£16,173
SAVINGS
Warehouse
PROPERTY TYPE
The Client
Based at Coursers Rd, Colney Heath, St Albans, our client operates within the construction and plant hire industry, supplying machinery and equipment for large-scale building and infrastructure projects.
Their business relies on efficient use of operational yard space for the storage and maintenance of heavy plant assets.
The Problem
The client had been leasing a large area of land as part of their day-to-day operations. However, when the landlord requested that a portion of this land be returned, the client stopped occupying or using that section.
Despite this change, the property’s business rates assessment was not updated. As a result, the client continued to be charged for the full, original area including land no longer under their control. Consequently, the client faced unnecessary financial pressure by paying rates on space they no longer accessed or used.
The Solution
To resolve this, RVA Surveyors carried out a detailed review of the site layout and the updated lease agreement. During this process, we identified that the rating assessment still included the surrendered section of land.
To address the discrepancy, we submitted a formal split request to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). This included current site plans and updated occupancy details. The goal was to ensure the client was only responsible for the area they actively occupied and to remove liability for the returned land.
The Outcome
The VOA approved the split, removing the extra land from the client’s business rates assessment. As a result, the client’s liability was reduced to reflect only the area they actually occupy and use.
This adjustment brought their business rates in line with their current lease terms and delivered immediate cost savings. It also ensured fairness and transparency in their ongoing charges, with no payments being made for land no longer within their control.
Savings achieved: £16,173
Surveyor comment
“In this situation, the client was unknowingly overpaying on business rates for land they no longer occupied. It’s a common issue when leases change but the rating assessment isn’t updated to reflect the new arrangement.”
