This week, members of the Goodman Nash team attended the 26th National Rating Day in London, joining professionals from across the rating industry, government, local authorities and the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
The event provided valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the profession, from the increasing complexity of rating systems across the UK to the growing role of technology within the valuation process.
Several themes stood out throughout the day.
A more complex landscape for ratepayers
One of the highlights of the day was a panel discussion featuring Nick Cooper from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Anouk Berthier and Ben Crudge.
Each speaker brought a different perspective, reflecting the increasingly diverse approaches being adopted across England, Scotland and Wales. The discussion provided valuable insight into how rating policy continues to evolve within each jurisdiction and the practical challenges this creates for ratepayers operating across multiple regions.
What was particularly encouraging was the willingness to share ideas and best practice despite those differences. While the systems themselves may be diverging, there remains a strong commitment across the profession to improving understanding and outcomes for ratepayers.
One of the key takeaways from the session was that navigating the rating landscape is becoming more complex rather than less. As new measures, reliefs and policy approaches emerge, businesses with property interests across the UK are increasingly having to contend with different rules, processes and administrative requirements depending on where their properties are located.
Technology is changing valuation practice
Another particularly interesting session was delivered by Alan Colston, who provided an insight into how the Valuation Office Agency is using artificial intelligence and model-assisted valuation techniques within its work.
The technology itself is impressive and clearly has the potential to support more efficient analysis of large volumes of property data. However, the most reassuring message was that expert human judgement remains central to the process.
As rating professionals, we understand that property taxation is rarely just about data. Legislation, case law, local market factors and the unique characteristics of individual properties all require interpretation and professional judgement. While AI will undoubtedly continue to play an increasingly important role, there remains a depth of knowledge and experience within the profession that technology cannot easily replicate.
The session offered an interesting glimpse into how technology is supporting the future of valuation work, while reinforcing the continued importance of experienced advisers in helping ratepayers understand and manage their liabilities.
High Value Council Tax Surcharge
The conference also included useful discussion around the proposed High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS).
While many aspects of the policy remain subject to consultation and further development, the session provided helpful context on the objectives behind the proposal and some of the practical considerations involved in implementation.
From a local authority perspective, identifying properties, locating owners and administering any new surcharge is unlikely to be without its challenges. As with many policy changes, the detail of implementation will ultimately be critical to how successfully the measures operate in practice.
Looking ahead
National Rating Day continues to be an important event for the profession, bringing together policymakers, practitioners and industry specialists to share knowledge and discuss the future of property taxation.
For Goodman Nash, the key takeaway was clear: while legislation, policy and technology continue to evolve, the value of specialist expertise remains unchanged.
Staying informed about developments across the rating landscape is essential, but equally important is understanding how those developments apply in practice. As the system becomes increasingly complex, the combination of technology, professional knowledge and practical experience will remain central to helping ratepayers navigate their obligations and opportunities with confidence.