As the Valuation Office Agency continues to come under fire over the Check, Challenge, Appeal system it now applies to business rates, Rating specialists at property consultancy Harris Lamb have suggested that it’s time for a re-think.
Andrew Hulbert, Director of Business Rates for the business, said: “Had the VOA taken concerns from both rate-payers and their agents on board prior to introducing the controversial system on April 1st this year, perhaps some of the negative feedback its now experiencing could have been avoided, given that we all predicted the fall-out from the moment the plans were announced.
“Implementing a Revaluation at the same time as attempting to reform the appeal process was always going to set off alarm bells, but four months into the new regime, the situation is becoming increasingly problematic.”
So far, cross-bench peer John Lytton has suggested the new CCA system has been implemented to prevent appeals, while high-profile bodies including the Federation for Small Businesses and CAMRA have piled criticism on the new scheme, with FSB Chairman Mike Cherry dismissing the CCA platform as ‘a total shambles.’
Local Authorities are, understandably, perhaps even less impressed as the VOA has also reformed the requirements of the level of information the council need to provide before they action a request to amend the rating list.
Andrew added: “ From our understanding these delays are hampering councils and adversely affecting their collection rates, and meanwhile they’re dealing with the increased workload placed upon them further to Chancellor Philip Hammond ‘s Budget announcement that local authorities would be provided with a £300 million fund to deliver discretionary relief to those businesses particularly adversely, and unfairly, affected by the revaluation.
“Given the upcoming reductions in staff at the VOA, some might argue that the whole CCA system and its inherent difficulties to operate are effectively a cost-cutting exercise to reduce the number of appeals the VOA had to oversee, but whatever the reasons for disregarding professional opposition to the reforms, the backlash to the new system in its initial months cannot go ignored.
“With criticism from Billing Authorities, Rating professionals and high profile bodies those working at the Valuation Office are now under considerable pressure to reform the reform, as it were.
“Having responded to the outcry with an assurance that the system will continue to be improved based on customer feedback, we are sure we are not alone in looking forward to a welcome VOA U-turn of sorts when it comes to the way that they handle appeals over the coming months,” he said.