Beware of 'Cowboy' Rating Surveyors

The Valuation Office Agency's website seems to be down this evening - but both that organisation and the Forum of Private Business are warning people to beware of 'cowboy' rating surveyors attempting to profiteer from the recent rates revaluation.

LeaseholdersUnited provides an on-line service designed to help SMEs keep their property costs down - and they publish a list of 150 genuine rating surveyors with at least a one in three success rate at appeal. You can view the list for free on its website.

'Cowboy' rating surveyors tend to 'cold call' businesses. If you are unhappy with the Valuation Office Agency's assessment of the rateable value of your business, and need help to appeal, then you would be best advised to choose someone from the list provided by LeaseholdersUnited.

Savings - if any! - made by cold-calling 'cowboys' tend to be minimal, and are often far exceeded by their fees.

Incidentally, Leaseholders United can help SMEs with many other aspects of property costs - rent, for example, or service charges and claims for Small Business Rate Relief. Their membership fee is £100 a year - but membership of the Forum of Small Business includes discounted access to Leaseholders United's on-line services.

I appreciate that you probably don't have much time to spare - but really is worth spending some of it checking out the two organisations I've mentioned here. They could save you a lot of money and a lot of grief.