cvs business rates q2 2015 property insight

16
ISSUE THREE 2015 www.cvsuk.com [email protected] IN THIS ISSUE APPEALS BACKLOG AT THE VOA RENT BARRIERS FOR START UPS ADDITIONAL SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES COMPETITION: WIN A KINDLE FIRE HD!

Upload: cvs-property-insight

Post on 23-Jul-2016

216 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

DESCRIPTION

CVS business rates and business rent specialists property insight magazine

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

ISSUE THREE 2015 www.cvsuk.com [email protected]

IN THIS ISSUEAPPEALS BACKLOG AT THE VOA

RENT BARRIERS FOR START UPS

ADDITIONAL SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES

COMPETITION: WIN A KINDLE FIRE HD!

Page 2: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

02

property insight ISSUE THREE

02 Welcome from the EditorMark Rigby introduces the next issue of Property Insight

03 284,000 Unresolved Appeals at the VOACheck out the official released statistics

04 CVS Speaks OutOur latest discussions and responses to Government

06 Strong Rental GrowthRICS UK Commercial Property Market Survey

07 Barriers for Start-UpsSoaring rents to blame for closure and relocation

08 Strengthening our Business Rent TeamNew appointments and opportunities for you

09 Additional Savings OpportunitiesA reminder about the other ways CVS can help you

10 Regional Round UpOur latest and greatest Client reductions

12 CVS ShowcaseHydroscand and Circle Housing tell their stories

14 CVS in the PressNational coverage, local knowledge

15 It’s Competition Time!Your chance to win a Kindle Fire HD

It’s been a busy quarter here at CVS. Following the Autumn Statement announcement, when the drastic changes to the backdating of the business rates appeal system were announced, we worked tirelessly to ensure that all our Clients had the best possible chance of securing savings from a successful rating appeal. During this time we lodged over 8,000 appeals at the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and achieved successful reductions in excess of £8.5M for our Clients.

However, we are now faced with an under-resourced VOA as they re-allocate 60% of their staff to delivering the 2017 revaluation. The remaining workforce are under immense pressure from targets and major Government rule changes. We’re calling on the Government to invest time and resources into the VOA so that ultimately, it is not you who will suffer. Further to this, CVS is proactively meeting with the leaders of the VOA to ensure our appeals are priority.

I hope that by now, you have visited our new website on www.cvsuk.com and read about the great services that we offer for Tenants under our Business

Rent umbrella, including rent reviews, lease renewals, dilapidations and lease re-gearing. If you have a lease event in the next year, now is the time to get in touch with us.

We are proud to employ expert Business Rent Surveyors who have detailed knowledge of the market, and are supported by a unique database allowing them to negotiate the best possible terms for you.

In this issue we also discuss some of our reductions in the last quarter. We are proud to work hard and smart, and just like any company, we like to showcase the great work that we conduct on your behalf.

We’re over halfway through 2015 already. Here at CVS, we’re pleased to be working for you to ensure that your commercial property costs are kept as low as possible, enabling you to thrive and do what you do best.

Mark RigbyChief Executive

Page 3: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

03

Official statistics revealed in the summer highlighted that the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) faces a backlog of almost 284,000 business rates appeals, sparking calls for urgent action from Government.

The statistics show that the VOA is resolving fewer appeals. 25% more appeals were unresolved in March 2015 than at the equivalent point in 2010. While the Government has previously blamed this on the large volume of appeals submitted, figures show that only 2% more have been received on the 2010 Rating List compared with the equivalent point in the 2005 List.

Appeals have flooded into the VOA as UK firms seek to challenge their business rates bills. A major spike in appeals took place earlier this year following new rules and deadlines introduced in the Chancellor’s 2014 Autumn Statement. Between January and March 2015, 201,000 appeals were submitted to the VOA.

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive of CVS, said: “These statistics show both the enormous scale of the challenge facing the VOA and the clear appetite from businesses for much more transparency over rates.

“The VOA is coming under huge pressure from hefty appeals targets, Government rule changes, and delivering the 2017 revaluation, all while headcount is being reduced and regional offices closed. These latest statistics show clearly that these resource pressures and additional appeals bureaucracy – and not the volume of new appeals, which has not significantly increased – are responsible for the slow clearance rate and the major backlog. Because of a lack of transparency in the system, ratepayers are forced to appeal

to access the evidence for their bill, and the Government should review how best to resolve these appeals rather than further squeezing both ratepayers and the VOA.”

As well as challenging Government claims about the volume of appeals, the industry has also raised questions over the Government’s reporting on appeal success rates. While the latest statistics state that only 29% of appeals result in a change to the Rating List, this fails to acknowledge a range of ways in which a business will have its Rateable Value reduced, or cases where appeals have been withdrawn under mitigating circumstances, such as when a business falls into administration. Based on its own performance track record, CVS believes that half of appeals result in a successful outcome. It also argues that appeals have, in many cases, become necessity because of the Government’s reluctance to share any substantial evidence with ratepayers.

The major spike in appeals experienced in January to March 2015 demonstrates the widespread appetite from businesses to check and challenge their business rates through the appeals system. The surge in appeals submitted, because of the rule changes on backdating, also highlights just how many ratepayers believe their business rates are unfair.

With other headline taxes set to be frozen by Government, we call on the Chancellor to invest in the business rates system, to properly resource the VOA and deliver pro-business improvements. A further squeeze on the VOA is the opposite of what UK firms need.

284,000 UNRESOLVED APPEALS SPARK CALLS FOR ACTION

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive of CVS, said: “These statistics show both the enormous scale of the challenge facing the VOA and the clear appetite from businesses for much more transparency over rates.

“The VOA is coming under huge pressure from hefty appeals targets, Government rule changes, and delivering the 2017 revaluation, all while headcount is being reduced and regional offices closed. These latest statistics show clearly that these resource pressures and additional appeals bureaucracy – and not the volume of new appeals, which has not significantly increased – are responsible for the slow clearance rate and the

major backlog. Because of a lack of transparency in the system, ratepayers are forced to appeal to access the evidence for their bill, and the Government should review how best to resolve these appeals rather than further squeezing both ratepayers and the VOA.”

Page 4: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

04

CVS Speaks OutDuring the second quarter of 2015, here at CVS we had our finger well and truly on the pulse as we continued to demonstrate our leading voice and stance in the business rates debate.

In July, the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the first Conservative Budget since 1996. Changes to the National Living Wage, the inheritance tax threshold increase and personal tax allowance dominated the headlines, but once again, confusion continues over what is going to happen with business rates and the proposed reforms.

The Summer Budget provided little impact to commercial property directly. Instead, it recommitted to completing a wide-ranging review of business rates aimed at improving administration, but this also led to disappointment as the Chancellor confirmed that the wide-ranging review will be fiscally neutral.

DISCUSSION PAPERSTo ensure we always have our voice heard, we have always provided a full response to the Government’s discussion papers: DCLG’s December 2013 consultation paper, ‘Checking and Challenging your Rateable Value’, and both of the HM Treasury and DCLG’s 2014 papers, ‘Administration of business rates in England’ and ‘Administration of business rates in England: Interim Findings’.

Following the 2014 Autumn Statement, the Government issued yet another consultation paper titled ‘Business rates review: terms of reference and discussion paper’. This time, our response drew on both the practical experience of our market-leading team of professional Rating Surveyors and the direct input from our Clients.

We believe that the system is out-dated and in drastic need for change, and we also firmly believe that ultimately, any changes should benefit ratepayers themselves.

We are proud to have worked on behalf of over 50,000 UK businesses and there is no-one better to influence our response than our Clients. Therefore we delivered a survey offering you the chance to have your voices heard. We were overwhelmed with responses, and each Client that provided us with their insight into the system was entered into a prize draw to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Congratulations to our winner Peter Barnes, Managing Director of Lipscomb Cars Ltd!

To read our full response to the ‘Business rates review: terms of reference and discussion paper’ and our recent letter to the Chancellor himself, please visit the CVS website www.cvsuk.com/news-resources/government-responses

Page 5: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

Business rates account for £28bn (4 per cent) of annual income for the Government.

If the new Government wants to make good in it’s commitment to eliminate the budget deficit by 2018, while avoiding any increase in Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT, then improvements to the business rates system are essential.

• Giving UK firms greater transparency and better access to the evidence behind their tax bill.

• Taking business rates into the 21st century through the best use of digital technology.

• Supporting the smallest firms by removing them from business rates altogether.

• Retaining a five year cycle of revaluation and a property-based assessment method which gives certainty and predictability and allows businesses to budget and forward plan.

• Providing businesses with the confidence that they are being taken seriously by adequately resourcing and investing in the Valuation Office Agency.

Greater efficiency, transparency and fairness must be central to any reform.

It’s high time that the Chancellor, and our new Conservative Government, wore their ‘pro business’ stripes with pride and start to help rather than hinder UK businesses.

what do we want?

Rates reform

when do we want it?

Now!!

Page 6: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

06

The RICS UK Commercial Property Market Survey results for Q1 2015 show no sign of rental growth easing on the occupier side of the commercial market. In fact, relative to the previous quarter, the pace at which conditions are improving accelerated. This is driving strong expectations for continued widespread rental gains in the short term and beyond.

CVS is completely focused on the occupier market and it is clear that the demand for leasable space has increased for all sectors over the past two years. This now represents the longest period of uninterrupted demand growth since the RICS Survey was launched back in 1998. Moreover, the rate of improvement quickened within all areas of the market in the first quarter of the year.

Alongside this, available space continued to fall right across the board according to the Survey. Indeed, while decline in the retail sector was more modest, both the industrial and office segments experienced a steep fall in availability.

Anecdotal evidence from contributors to the RICS Survey frequently highlight lack of supply as an issue, especially in the office sector, where conversion of units into residential property has reduced stock significantly.

What does this mean for you?It is these increasingly tight market conditions which are driving strong rental expectations for rent reviews and lease renewals, where near term rental projections are strongest in the office and industrial sectors, while retail continues to lag behind (although still in positive territory).

The twelve month outlook for retail rents is much more upbeat, particularly for the prime High Street. Nonetheless, the office sector is projected to post the sharpest rental growth over the year ahead and will continue to do so over the next three years.

On a regional level, expectations for rental growth remain more elevated in London than all other parts of the country. Even so, rents are still anticipated to increase in all four broad regional groupings, across all sectors in 2015.

Time is of the essence to enter into negotiations early with your Landlord on any forthcoming rent reviews or lease renewals, so the impact on rental growth is minimised for your property.

STRONG RENTAL GROWTH SHOWS NO SIGN OF EASING

Page 7: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

Soaring rents are to blame for more and more London start-ups having to close or relocate as costs become too much to cope with in the capital.

A poll conducted by Sussex Innovation London found that 500 small business leaders across London believed that high rents were the biggest worry for small businesses looking to grow and prosper in London.

When the poll was first launched, it revealed that just 37% felt that high rents on their property were the biggest barrier for their businesses to grow. However, a year later the results show that this number has now risen to 62%. Businesses are now more likely to consider relocating their business away from London.

The poll also showed that 47% of business leaders were considering moving their operations base away from the capital. The figure now stands at 66%.

Fashion incubator The Trampery is an example of how high business rents are driving businesses out of London. The business first opened two years ago and is now looking for a new home as rents have increased by 400% since they first moved in. The organisation, which currently has six sites across London, revealed that they have been paying £125,000 per year in rents for their Morley Hall space, and they’re expecting it to rise to £230,000 by September.

John Hayward, Head of Business Rent said: “This level of increase is not uncommon; we are seeing an average

of 50% increases in business rents by landlords when quoting new terms on a lease renewal or rent review. It is vitally important that occupiers seek professional advice when negotiating a new rent because levels of rent now will also impact on the rates they will have to pay in 2017, when having regard to the Antecedent Valuation date of 1 April 2015 for rating purposes.”

Mike Herd, Executive Director of Sussex Innovation at the University of Sussex, had the following to say, “Our findings reflect the start-up journey; a London address provides kudos and contacts when you begin, but a year later, the honeymoon is over as bills start to flow in.

“In a reverse of the seven year itch, our polling shows small firms fall back in love with London only once they’re well established. If London is to hang on to more growth businesses it needs to look again at business rates and affordability.”

Although London is seeing the highest rental growth rates, in terms of the rest of the UK marketplace, rents are still rising across all property sectors with the main regional commercial centres driving these headline rentals. The strong outlook for rental growth does not look like it will be receding anytime soon with the recent IPD UK Monthly Property Index and the latest RICS UK Commercial Property Market Survey indicating that this trend will continue for some time to come.

barriers for start ups

Page 8: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

08

We are dedicated to the Landlord and Tenant market with our ‘Business Rent Reduction Service’. Our ambition to be ‘The Tenant’s Choice’ means we are in a fantastic position to provide advice on rent reviews, lease renewals, dilapidations and lease re-gearing to UK commercial property tenants.

We focus solely on the tenant, providing assurances to our Clients over conflict of interest and guaranteeing them that their goals are completely aligned with our own. We are continuing with our well respected performance-based pricing model which has delivered year on year value to Clients and ensures we remain results focussed.

This is a truly exciting time for us here at CVS, as it is important that we strengthen our service offering to our Clients when it is required, and we have certainly seen the appetite for this service as commercial rent increases show no sign of easing across the UK.

In order to service our Business Rent Clients, we are strengthening our Business Rent Team, now headed up by John Hayward. John joined

CVS in December 2009. He has over fifteen years’ experience in the surveying field and is extremely skilled and knowledgeable. He has worked for firms including King Sturge, Eddisons, Lambert Smith Hampton and DTZ, gaining significant experience in surveying throughout the UK.

John is a skilful negotiator and has amassed considerable knowledge of the Landlord and Tenant field of surveying and regularly prepares Expert Witness reports for submission to Arbitrators and Independent Experts.

We are also delighted to welcome the newest members to the Business Rent Surveying Team, David Boddington and Dave Collett. Between them they have over 50 years experience and we are delighted to welcome them to the team.

All in all, we are delivering success to both our Rent and Rates Clients and thank you once again for your instructions.

Strengthening our Rent Reduction Team

John Hayward, BSc (Hons) MRICS IRRV (Hons) ACIArb

RANDOM FACTBefore JOHN joined the property industry HE spent 10 years running a chauffeur company with HIS father and brothers. THEY would carry the great and the good, from guests on A Question of Sport to Damien Hirst!

Page 9: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

Rating AuditA Rating Audit, in simple terms, is a forensic analysis of your historic business rates liability. Our experienced Auditors scrutinise transactions as far back as 1990, to certify that the relevant UK Rating Regulations and Laws have been applied correctly to your account. This is a highly specialised service covering a complex area of legislation and is independent of any ongoing appeals or billing audits. Our team provides a comprehensive service for individual properties or large portfolios and as our fees are performance related, there aren’t any costs unless we deliver savings directly to you. The process is fast and efficient, with the majority of cases being settled within a matter of weeks. There is also minimal impact on your time, as we manage the case submission and any negotiations with the relevant authorities to conclusion.

Capital AllowancesCapital Allowances are a valuable form of tax relief. They are available to any person incurring capital expenditure by buying, building or renovating commercial property. As a business, you are entitled to claim Capital Allowances on certain purchases or investments. This means you can deduct a proportion of the cost of these goods and services from your taxable business profits at the end of the year.

The result is a reduced tax bill. Our team provides a comprehensive service for individual properties or large portfolios and as our fees are performance related, there are no costs unless we deliver savings directly to you.

Empty Property RatesHistorically, landlords with empty commercial properties were exempt from business rates for the first three months, and were then charged at 50%. Empty industrial properties were completely exempt. However, at the 2007 Budget, the policy changed so that business rates would apply in full after three months for commercial properties, and after six months for industrial premises.

Are you paying rates on your empty space? You don’t have to be.

Contact your Account Manager today to find out how we could support you further.

a reminder about cvs’ additional

savings opportunities!

09

Page 10: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

10

Northern Home Counties & London north

London South & Central

Chris Poole secured a £65,000 reduction in Rateable Value for Trend Micro (UK) Limited, which will save them over £128,000 across the Rating List.

This reduction was based on tone as other floors in the same building were benefitting from a lower rate per m/sq. This is an excellent result which has ensured Trend Micro (UK) Ltd are in line with their neighbours.

Some of our other successes in the region include, David Ford’s £55,000 reduction in Rateable Value for Westfield Restaurants Ltd, which will save them over £72,000 across the Rating List, and Richard Wadsworth’s successful reduction of £27,500 for Oando Logistics & Services Limited T/A Oando, which will save them over £58,000 across the Rating List.

Adam Handley took his appeal for Albon Engineering & Manufacturing Plc to Valuation Tribunal after an agreement could not be made between the VOA and CVS. Adam secured a fantastic £182,500 reduction in Rateable Value, by merging two production facilities which were separated by an estate road, creating one new assessment. This result will save them over £599,000 across the current Rating List.

Further to this, Steve Maycock secured a £172,000 reduction in Rateable Value for Premium Warehousing Ltd, which will save them over £289,000 across the Rating List. Philip Emerick then secured a £76,000 RV reduction for York Racecourse Knavesmire Llp, saving them over £226,000.

regional round upTake a look at our most recent Client reductions

Page 11: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

11

Northern Home Counties & London north

thenorth

South West & West Midlands

Steve Plowman achieved a £21,000 reduction in Rateable Value for Solent Sky Aviation Museum, which will save them over £54,000 across the Rating List. The VOA had inaccurate areas for our Client’s property and had also incorrectly assessed the adjacent Cadet Centre. Both physical and tonal adjustments were made to secure this fantastic result.

Steve also worked on behalf of John Fowler Holidays Ltd, a Client whom CVS has worked for across many of its UK sites. In this instance, he secured a £19,750 reduction in Rateable Value which, together with the other CVS reductions, will save them over £377,000 across the Rating List. Finally, Catrin Mathias secured a £14,750 reduction for Franchise Int Ltd, which will save them over £34,000.

Graeme Herron secured a staggering £360,000 reduction in Rateable Value for Sage UK Ltd, which will save them a fantastic £1.1 million across the Rating List. The building had been assessed and compared to other similar buildings in the region, however Graeme argued that it should be based on other premises closer to the locality. This case went to Valuation Tribunal with strong evidence and the new lower Rateable Value agreed. A truly excellent and industry leading result!

Meanwhile, Harry Pitt secured a fantastic £72,500 reduction in Rateable Value for Weightmans LLP, which will save them over £143,000 across the Rating List.

Philip Emerick also worked for Swiis who utilised our Rent Service after their Landlord issued a dilapidations schedule amounting to £56,680. Philip successfully negotiated this down to £38,000, generating savings of £18,680.

Page 12: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

Hydroscand was first established in Stockholm in 1969. The company experienced fantastic growth and now operates across 17 countries worldwide. Hydroscand hosts 13 branches in England and Ireland and is responsible for the sale and distribution of hose and fluid connectors.

RESULTSCVS has so far worked on behalf of Hydroscand across its Gloucester and Nottingham depots, generating savings of over £31,000 across the seven year Rating List.

Surveyor Comments“The reduction was based on a change of use of these premises and hence a change in the basis of valuation from retail warehouse to standard warehouse.

The premises had previously been a Comet Retail Warehouse and valued at £40 per sqm. Our Client took occupation from 2014 but used the premises as a standard warehouse unit.

The Valuation Office Agency agreed that there had indeed been a change in the use of the building and decided to re-value the premises on a standard industrial basis at £26 per sqm, securing a £23,250 reduction in Rateable Value for Hydroscand.”

Harry Pitt MRICS, Rating Director, CVS

“We are pleased that we took advantage of CVS’ sterling business rates service. Utilising their expertise has certainly paid off, and we are now looking forward to reinvesting the money saved back into our growing business.

We would certainly recommend CVS to other businesses.”James Richardson,Management Accountant, Hydroscand Ltd

Savings of £31,387

high savings for hydroscand

12

Page 13: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

13

Circle is one of the largest groups of Housing Associations in the UK. It provides affordable housing and related services in England, mainly in London, the South East, East Anglia and Birmingham.

Circle owns and manages more than 63,500 homes, including supported and sheltered housing, for more than 200,000 people across the UK, and employs over 2,200 staff. Its mission is to enhance the life chances of its residents by providing high-quality homes and reliable services, and building sustainable communities.

CVS was instructed by one of Circle’s nine registered providers, Circle Housing Russet, to carry out a Rating Audit across four of their UK sites.

RESULTSCircle Housing Russet Homes instructed CVS to carry out a historical Rating Audit across their UK portfolio. To date, CVS has been successful on three out of four audits. This has generated savings of £64,134 for the Client.

Auditor Comments“Following an analysis of the business rates accounts held within the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling, CVS identified that Circle Housing Russet Homes had been overcharged. Once instructed by Circle Housing Russet Homes, CVS began discussions with the council and once this error had been communicated, the relevant refund was processed.”

Alex Ganz, Rating Audit Manager, CVS

“CVS’ Rating Audit department has been great to work with.

They identified that we had been overcharged and instantly began the

procedure to generate our savings back to us. They were professional at all times and the money we have

had returned to us will support the well-being of our tenants.

We would certainly recommend the

specialist service that CVS’ Rating Audit department can carry out for

organisations.”Cathy Devlin,

Head Of Facilities, Circle Housing Russet Homes

Savings of £64,134SAVINGS GO FULL CIRCLE

Page 14: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

14

It’s time for action on business ratesDuring five years of the coalition government, voices calling for improvements to the business rates system were loud and clear.

The coalition’s response was to drive three consultation initiatives - but, as many of our clients tell us, what businesses (and SMEs most of all) want to see is tangible action.

That urgency from occupiers for improvement was prompted by the perfect storm of a postponed revaluation combined with major movements in rents, which has caused a lot of people a lot of pain.

Business rates are not some minor tax issue. They generate around £28bn (4%) of annual income for the government and affect the economic performance, profitability and viability of businesses. Our new Conservative government must deliver credible reform and improvement if it is to retain any confidence that it is genuinely pro-business.

The Conservatives have said they will eliminate the budget deficit by 2018, avoiding increases in income tax, National Insurance and VAT. They have also committed to a reduction in departmental spending, further tax cuts and an additional £8bn in funding for the NHS. The chancellor has limited room for manoeuvre. That’s why addressing the problems with business rates is even more important. Appropriate reform will empower businesses to be more productive and generate the economic activity, growth and tax take on which the Conservatives are depending.

Crucially, the chancellor needs to enact reform that shifts the culture around business rates. Greater efficiency, transparency and fairness must be central and a reversal from the current burden of responsibility sitting with the taxpayer to instead rest with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is equally essential. We need to move towards a system where the VOA does more to disclose and substantiate the calculations by which an occupier’s business rates bill has been arrived and away from the opaque and adversarial system we have at present.

Based on what our clients are telling us, the chancellor also needs to:

• Bring UK firms greater transparency and better access to the evidence behind their

tax bill;• Take business rates into the 21st century through the best use of digital technology;• Support the smallest firms by removing them from business rates altogether;• Retain a five-year cycle of revaluation and a property-based assessment method that gives certainty and predictability and allows businesses to budget and plan;• Adequately resource and invest in the VOA.

Talk is good but ultimately it’s what you do that counts. Our message to the chancellor is similar. Listen, address concerns and think first but act decisively.

Businesses will soon have had seven years of a system widely acknowledged to have under-performed and constrained economic activity in many sectors and parts of the country. That’s a long time. That’s why we, at CVS, are calling for the chancellor to show his pro-business ‘stripes’ and strengthen the business rates system. His summer budget, on 8 July, would be a good place to start.

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive, CVS

It’s time for Government action over business rates systemIt’s hightime that the Chancellor, and our new Conservative Government, wore their ‘pro-business’ stripes with pride and start to help, rather than hinder, UK businesses.

Under the coalition Government, three consultations on business rates were introduced, discussed and tinkered with, none of which amounted to any real change. In fact, the only thing they will be remembered for is their postponement of the business rates revaluation, from 2015 to 2017, more than anything it did to help businesses struggling with an unwieldy and opaque business rates system.

I speak on behalf of CVS, and of our 50,000 largely SME business clients, when I say that now is the time for action. Business rates account for £28billion (four per cent) of annual income for the Government. But if the new Government is serious about being pro-business and if it wants to achieve its fiscal targets without choking off growth, it needs to put adequate resources into the Valuation Office Agency as well as change the culture around business rates. Greater efficiency, transparency and fairness must be central to any reform. It would also be hugely beneficial if the Valuation Office Agency were able to disclose and substantiate the calculations by which an occupier’s business rates bill has been arrived at, and I think I speak

for the majority when I say that actually understanding a tax bill can relieve some of its sting.

If the new Government wants to make good in its commitment to eliminate the budget deficit by 2018, while avoiding any increase in income tax, National Insurance and VAT, then improvements to the business rates system are essential. Only the other week, I wrote an open letter to the Chancellor on behalf of CVS and our clients, setting out our recommendations for action. These included:

• Bringing UK firms greater transparency and better access to the evidence behind their tax bill.• Taking business rates into the 21st century through the best use of digital technology.• Supporting the smallest firms by removing them from business rates altogether• Retaining a five-year cycle of re-valuation and a property-based assessment method which gives certainty and predictability and allows businesses to budget and forward-plan• Providing businesses with the confidence they are being taken seriously by adequately resourcing and investing in the Valuation Office Agency.

I am ready and willing to assist in this process of improvement and to offer my own experience to support the new Government in making such improvements.

CVS enters lease advisory marketCVS is entering into the lease advisory market with a new business rent service. The business rates specialist is set to increase its surveyor team to deliver the new service across its offices in London, Manchester and Bristol. The firm has also rebranded as CVS, Business Rent and Rates Specialists, to reflect its broadened service offering. CVS will provide advice on rent reviews, lease renewals, dilapidations and lease regearing to commercial property tenants across the UK.

Mark Rigby, chief executive of CVS, said: “We are launching the new service in response to significant appetite in the market for our progressive, performance-based model. “Directly aligning our interests with those of our clients to help save them money has been crucial to the remarkable growth in our business rates service over the last five years.”

in the press

Page 15: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

15

Simply email [email protected] with your name, company name and contact details to be entered into the prize draw raffle!

Entries close on 28/9/2015

The all new Amazon Fire HD 7 Tablet is more powerful than before and packed full of fantastic features to suit the whole family.

The Fire HD tablet runs on the fourth generation of Amazon’s Fire operating system. Designed to give you fast access to the content that matters the most to you, it makes accessing apps, books, music and films simple as they’re right there when you turn it on, organised exactly how you want.

Whether you’re looking for books, magazines or textbooks, easy-access to the Kindle Marketplace makes finding the content you want simple.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Fire HD 7 features a great-quality HD screen that makes the most of all your streamed content with impressive colours, clarity and detail. You can even Second Screen content to any Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 or Samsung TV.

Front and rear facing cameras let you capture yourself and the world around you in excellent quality. You can snap away without worrying about using up your 8 GB of storage with photos as the Fire HD 7 features unlimited Cloud photo storage for free. Plus, you can share your photos with Facebook and Twitter in seconds.

competition

win

Page 16: CVS business rates q2 2015 property insight

MANCHESTER OFFICE Oakland House, Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0PQ

LONDON OFFICE

Woolgate Exchange, 25 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5HA

BRISTOL OFFICE 31 Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5QD

0800 799 7035w: www.cvsuk.com e: [email protected]

CVS_Surveyors CVS Business Rent & Rates Specialists

CVS (Commercial Valuers & Surveyors) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales No. 3729338

We welcome your feedback on our quarterly magazine, Property Insight. If you have a subject you would like to know more about please get in touch via the details below.

Member