The Client
Maypen Hill Ltd operates two holiday let properties in West Berkshire. As a long-established provider of short-term accommodation, the business relied on accurate rating assessments to ensure its property costs reflected the correct basis of occupation and use.
The Case
During a routine review of our in-house property data, Goodman Nash identified that both holiday lets were incorrectly rated. Not only were the properties assessed on the wrong basis, but they were also being charged separately when they should have been assessed together. As a result of these errors, Maypen Hill Ltd had been paying significantly inflated business rates for several years, despite their correct liability being £0.
Unaware that the assessments were incorrect, the client continued to pay the charges, with no indication from the billing authorities that the rating treatment was flawed.
The Solution
Goodman Nash carried out a detailed investigation into the properties, drawing on our technical expertise and local market knowledge to build a robust case. We identified that multiple steps would be required to correct the rating position and prepared comprehensive submissions to support the challenge.
Once instructed, we managed the entire process on the client’s behalf. This included liaising directly with the Valuation Office Agency, responding to queries, addressing technical objections, and pursuing the matter through periods of delay and resistance. We required only minimal documentation from the client, allowing them to remain focused on running their business while we handled the complexity.
Following the successful amendment of the rating basis, we then worked with the local council to ensure the revised assessments were correctly applied and that all available reductions were fully realised.
The Outcome
Goodman Nash secured a refund of approximately £14k, with total savings of around £18k backdated to the start of trading. The two properties were correctly reassessed as a single assessment, resulting in a £0 business rates liability going forward. Maypen Hill Ltd now benefits from complete confidence that their rating position is accurate, compliant, and optimised for the future.
Over a very cordial pub lunch, we agreed to ask Goodman Nash to undertake Business Rates Recovery for our property rental company. For reasons that were absolutely no fault of theirs, the process took longer than expected, but Howard and his team persisted and achieved terrific results. The amount of communication as things progressed was just right - neither too much nor too little. We felt fully informed at all times and are very grateful for their sterling endeavours on our behalf.
Julian Rota, Owner