Act now to Secure Better Business Rates
Posted on Tue 21st Apr 2015 at 12:03
If you’re an independent wine merchant, you have until 31st March to lodge an appeal against business rates remaining fixed until 2017. As many of you are aware, business rates are currently fixed at a pre-recession level, something which keeps them unjustly high and puts an added strain on small businesses in an already difficult time. If you think your finances could be better directed towards fulfilling your passion of providing great wines to local consumers, now is the time to act!Rental values are decreasing
As many of you are aware, business rates are currently fixed at a pre-recession level, something which keeps them unjustly high and puts an added strain on small businesses in an already difficult time. If you think your finances could be better directed towards fulfilling your passion of providing great wines to local consumers, now is the time to act!Rental values are decreasing or stalling in many towns, while vacancy rates are rising sharply. According to commercial property advisor Colliers International, the 10 worst-affected UK locations are: Telford, Boston, Swansea, Merry Hill, Neath, Poole, Aylesbury, Barnstaple, Marlow, and Swindon. Yet whether you are in these areas or elsewhere, the fact remains that unless a significant protest is made before 31 March this year, the planned 2015 re-evaluation of business rates will not go ahead. This means we will be faced with the same high rates until 2017. Large institutions such as the British Retail Consortium are getting in on the act and calling for the valuation system to be drastically reformed. To do your part, write to your local MP and visit the harpers.co.uk website for other ideas on how to get involved.