You are on the: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.
Below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions
Using this application
- How can I find my billing authority reference number?
- How can I find my property if I don’t know the postcode?
- Why does it say ‘and premises’ in the search results, when I don’t have any premises?
- I can’t see my property in the search results – what next?
The property valuation
- What businesses qualify as exempt from business rates?
- Why have you valued my property based on 2008 values?
- But we’re now in a recession – how are 2008 values fair?
- What are zone A, zone B? – an explanation of zoning
- What is fair maintainable trade?
- Where did the information on my valuation come from?
- Some of the details of my valuation are incorrect – how do I get them corrected?
- How do you measure my property?
- Why have my measurements changed?
- How can I check my measurements are correct?
- What does net internal area (NIA) mean?
- What does gross internal area (GIA) mean?
- Does the method of measurement affect my valuation?
- Why does it say ‘and premises?’ I just have a shop…
- How can I view previous valuations of my property?
- How can I compare my property valuation to others?
- How do you rate properties with more than one self-contained unit?
Business rates - an overview
- What are business rates?
- What happens with the money?
- What are rating lists?
- What is a revaluation?
- What is the effective date?
- What is a valuation scheme?
- What's a sub-programme?
- What’s a “material change”?
- What are the current multipliers?
- What is a billing authority reference number?
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The rates bill
- How much am I going to pay?
- When will I get my bill using this rateable value?
- If my rateable value has gone up at revaluation does that mean I'll be paying more?
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Assistance with paying rates - rate reliefs
- How do I apply for transitional relief?
- How transitional relief works
- Am I eligible for charitable relief?
- Am I eligible for small business rate relief?
- How does small business rate relief in England work?
- How does small business rate relief in Wales work?
- What other reliefs are available?
- What about my empty property? Do I get any form of relief for that
FAQs on specific businesses
Rateable value
- How are my rates calculated?
- What does rateable value mean?
- Is the rateable value what I pay?
- Why is my rateable value different from my rent?
- My rent has been lowered. Can my rateable value be lowered?
- Why has my rateable value gone up?
- Why is my rateable value higher than my neighbour's?
- How do you arrive at the price per metre squared?
Making an appeal against my rating assessment
- On what grounds can I appeal?
- What should I do if I think my rateable value is wrong?
- Why can’t I appeal against my valuation?
- Are you going to inspect my property if I make an appeal?
- Can I appeal against the 2010 valuation?
- Can I appeal against my current (2005) valuation?
- What is the procedure for an appeal?
- When will you deal with my appeal?
- How can I check the progress of my appeal?
- I have an outstanding 2005 appeal. When that is finalised, what will happen to my new 2010 valuation
- My property has been affected by extreme weather - what do I do now?
Instructing an agent
- I have been approached by a company who says they will appeal on my behalf – should I use them?
- Will I be dealt with more quickly if I instruct an agent?
How your bill is calculated (3 mins) A clear demonstration of what is used to work out what you actually pay in business rates.
How we value pubs (2 mins) To get a fair valuation of pubs, we look at trade levels. This video shows what we take into account.
How we value using rents (2 mins) Most properties - shops, offices, industrial premises and so on - are valued this way. See how.
How we measure your property (2 mins) A look at what we take into account to get the right measurements
How zoning works (2 mins) Confused by zone A, zone B etc? This video explains it really simply.