Annabel’s Leisure Mayfair   |   Agfa Gevaert Ltd Manufacturing Brentford   |   Ajilon Recruitment UK-wide   |   Bayer PLC Pharmaceuticals Berks/Bucks/Essex/Midlands   |   Brunswick Group PR Central London   |   Cairnserve Food/Retail SE England (16 sites)   |   London Borough of Hackney Local Authority London   |   Maison du Pain Food/Manufacturing Middlesex   |   QVC Media/TV Wandsworth   |   Rumford Investments Property Co Liverpool   |   Sky Parks Car Parks Edinburgh   |   Threadneedle Investment Central London

Annabel’s Leisure Mayfair
Brief Provide comprehensive rating advice
Issues Over charging – transitional relief on Fitness Club
Hardship relief
Level of valuation 1990, 1995 and 2000 Rating Lists
Result Group Savings of approx £356,000 over 15 years

Agfa Gevaert Ltd Manufacturing Brentford
Brief Reduce rate payments during building works
Issues Refurbishment in client’s office premises
Result Rate savings £130,000 over 11 months

Ajilon Recruitment UK-wide
Brief Business Rates appeals 2000 Rating List
Portfolio of 77 offices
Issues Level of Valuation 2000
Result Savings of over £200,000 over 5 years

Bayer PLC Pharmaceuticals Berks/Bucks/Essex/Midlands
Brief Reduce outgoings on partially used accommodation
Issues Discretionary relief for unoccupied parts
Result Savings of over £...tba

Brunswick Group PR Central London
Brief Minimise Business Rate bills
Issues Offices in 3 interconnecting buildings
Poor layout and intercommunication
Comparison with other offices
Quality of air conditioning
Discretionary relief for unoccupied parts
Result Savings of over £500,000

Cairnserve Food/Retail SE England (16 sites)
Brief Business Rates appeals 2000 Rating List
Issues Level of Valuation 2000
Result Savings of £115,000 March 2000 to April 2005

London Borough of Hackney Local Authority London
Brief Provide comprehensive rating advice across portfolio
Issues Business Rates appeals 1995 and 2000 Rating List
Protective appeals enabling interim savings
Valuation Tribunal hearing and appeal to Lands Tribunal
Result Savings of £63,000 over 10 years
LT ruling paved way to agree client’s other main offices yielding savings of approx. £1,000,000

Maison du Pain Food/Manufacturing Middlesex
Brief Reduce Business Rates Costs
Issues Merger of assessments
Level of valuation on 2000 Rating List
Result Savings of £74,310 over 5 years

QVC Media/TV Wandsworth
Brief Reduce Business Rates Costs
Issues Over-charging – loss of transitional relief Level of valuation 1995 and 2000 Rating Lists
Result Obtained refund of £870,000 rates overpaid due to billing errors. Reduced 1995 and 2000 valuations on appeal with further savings of £900,000 over 10 years

Rumford Investments Property Co Liverpool
Brief Save rates on empty suites in office block following vacations and lease expiry on about 60% of building. The building suffered structural problems but the tenants remained in the other 40%
Issues Value of premises subject to defects
Result 60% saving in unoccupied rates saved from 1997 to 2003.

Sky Parks Car Parks Edinburgh
Brief Business Rates appeals 2000 Rating List
Issues Specialised fully automated car park
Rateability of car park plant & machinery
Level of Valuation 2000
Result Savings of £350,000 over 3 year period

Threadneedle Investment Central London
Brief Minimise Business Rate Bills
Issues Empty rate liability pending redevelopment
Separate RVs merged to reduce total valuation
Subsequent deletion
Result Savings of £125,000