Real estate company reduces business rates with RVA Surveyors
Case study:
Real Estate Company | London
Specialising in real estate investment and management, focusing on buying and selling properties for their own portfolio, letting or leasing out owned or leased real estate and managing property assets under contract.
KEY
FACTS
4 MONTHS
ACHIEVED IN
£21,913
SAVINGS
Office
PROPERTY TYPE
The Client
Located at Munster Road London, the client occupied a property that had previously served as a commercial unit, most closely aligned with an industrial workshop or warehouse in terms of its property classification.
However, by late 2023, the building was in the process of being redeveloped into a private residential dwelling. With this shift in use, the premises no longer met the criteria for business rates liability, despite still being listed with a full rateable value.
The Problem
At the time, the property was no longer being used for any commercial activity. Nevertheless, the client continued to be charged business rates based on an outdated rateable value of £15,250 by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
In essence, this assessment no longer reflected the property’s current condition or intended use. Consequently, this placed an unnecessary financial burden on the client. Since the space was under active redevelopment, it had ceased to serve any business purpose.
The Solution
To address the issue, RVA Surveyors carried out an on-site inspection on 8th January 2025, confirming that redevelopment works were underway. Using a combination of on-site photography and online research, we gathered compelling evidence including planning approval documents to support the claim that the premises was being converted into a residential property.
Subsequently, a Check was submitted to the VOA, formally requesting that the property be removed from the rating list. This is because residential properties are not subject to business rates. Furthermore, we liaised directly with a VOA caseworker to confirm the official start date of the construction. After reviewing contractor invoices and related documents, the VOA accepted 21st August 2023 as the commencement date of redevelopment.
The Outcome
Following our submission, the VOA agreed with the evidence provided and officially removed the property from the rating list on 29th April 2025. As a result, the rateable value was reduced from £15,250 to £0.
Ultimately, this ensured that the client was no longer liable for business rates on a property that no longer served a commercial purpose. This allowed them to proceed confidently with the residential redevelopment without facing unnecessary financial pressure.
Savings in liability achieved: £21,913
Surveyor comment
“Once we confirmed the property’s redevelopment into residential use, we acted quickly to have it removed from the rating list. Securing a backdated reduction to £0 saved the client from paying unnecessary business rates on a non-commercial space.”
