Enough's enough!

Edinburgh Chamber members are counting the cost of a Non Domestic Rates revaluation which takes effect from April this year - leaving many with massive increases in their bills - 100% or more in some cases. The Scottish Government maintains that '60% of businesses are paying less', which of course means 40% are paying more.

NDR is supposed to be a fair reflection of rental values. The problem is that the effective date of the revaluation was 1 April 2008 - at the peak of the market pre-recession. Since when commercial property values have tumbled.

Some of the increases are eye-watering- and the impact on businesses seeking to trade through the recession is very serious indeed. Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has been leading a campaign to restore transitional relief, which had the effect of capping any increases to 12.5% (instead of the 50-100% increases some members are facing) and which is still being applied in England and Wales.

Our campaign will go on. But in the meantime, businesses are paying the increased costs. We say, enough's enough, and would encourage as many businesses as possible, formally to appeal against the Lothian Assessor's valuation, if you feel it is unreasonable and unfair.

So far (mid-August), 1920 businesses, a 6.4% of the total 30,000 businesses on the Valuation Roll, have appealed and the figure is rising fast. You have until 30th September 2010 to appeal; but you'll need some professional advice to do so. Below is a list of member companies qualified to handle your case.

More news on on the campaign: Chamber challenges Government over business rates; Edinburgh Chamber pledges mass appeal.

Useful documents

Business Rates update 13 January 2011
Non Domestic Rates briefing paper 12 April 2010
Edinburgh Hotels NDR Increases
Stafford St Rateable Values 2010-2011

Media coverage to date

The Evening News, Monday 5 July 2010

Scotland on Sunday, Sunday 11 July, 2010

The Scotsman, Monday 12 July 2010