Apart from properties that are exempt from business rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is normally set by the valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an Agency of the Inland Revenue. It draws up and maintains a full list of all rateable values, which are available on their website.
The rateable value of your property will be shown on the front of your bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1 April 2005, this date was set as 1 April 2003. The valuation officer may alter the value if the circumstances of the property have changed.
Appeals
The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information about making appeals can be found on the VOA website or from the local valuation office shown below.
Successful appeals against values shown in the rating list that came into force on 1 April 2005 will normally be backdated to that date, although there are exceptions to this.