Partner and rating expert at Bruton Knowles’ Birmingham office, Ian Pitt, appraises the winners and losers in this revaluation: “Overall, the West Midlands has fared well, with many businesses seeing a fall in their rates bill. Birmingham’s average 11.51% increase in rateable values could be off-set by a predicted fall in the multiplier for next year, the figure by which the rateable value is multiplied to determine the payable business rate.

“This positive outlook varies from sector to sector however, and the overall picture disguises some substantial and unjustified increases in assessment which should be challenged by businesses to ensure rates liability is kept to a minimum. Sectors which have seen particularly large increases include car showrooms, license and leisure operators and some industrial premises.”

Some 1.7 million properties across England and Wales are affected by the new business rates, which are revalued every five years to account for changes in property values. Although the new assessments do not come into effect until 1 April 2010, which is the date after which official appeals can be made, businesses can challenge any discrepancies on the revaluation in advance.

Ian Pitt advises: “We urge businesses across the region to focus and act swiftly to take advantage of the window of opportunity to scrutinise provisional rates, not least because 2010 rates have been based on values taken in April 2008, before the recession had really taken hold. In particular, there is additional scope to challenge rates in property sectors like trade counters which have expanded since the last assessment.

“Firms should also be aware of the opportunity to check their 2005 assessments; this could have a significant bearing on the rates payable from 2010 and an appeal could see savings made by re-claiming over-payments, possibly dating as far back as 1 April 2005. Indeed, businesses should explore all options to ensure their new rates are correct in this difficult market.”