Betfred
Hart Commercial Surveyors acted for Betfred in an Upper Tribunal appeal – Wassiljew-Jones (VO) v Done Bros (Cash Betting) Ltd t/a Betfred RA 85/2014 [2015] UKUT 0499 (LC). The issue at stake was a procedural matter in what constitutes ‘appearing’ at a hearing.
We successfully argued that the valuation officer (VO) was not entitled to appeal to the UT having been barred from participating in the Valuation Tibunal proceedings for failure to submit a statement of case on time. While the VO was a party to the appeal, the right to appeal to the UT under regulation 42 of the VTE Regulations is limited to a party who “appeared” at a hearing.
Although the VO argued that a member of the VOA staff had been present at the hearing, it was concluded that, as that could not be evidenced, they could not be said to have appeared as a formal representative of the VO; therefore the VO was not entitled to appeal against the VTE decision.
This meant that the reduction in rateable value on the Wigan premises from £310,000 to £227,500 achieved at VT would remain in the List.
Hart Commercial Surveyors acted for Betfred on their Birchwood head office in an appeal that was referred and determined by the Valuation Tribunal. We successfully argued that the price adopted was excessive and that both the layout and lack of parking facilities warranted end allowances resulting in a reduction in rateable value from £307,500 to £190,500.
Parker International and Turner Bianca Plc
Hart Commercial Surveyors acted for both Parker International and Turner Bianca Plc at Globe Industrial Park, Stockport. Due to multiple assessments that were contiguous to one another these were initially merged to create one assessment for each ratepayer and then appealed.
The appeal was referred and determined by the Valuation Tribunal. We successfully argued that the layout and size of the hereditament warranted end allowances. The total reductions in rateable value achieved were from £187,500 to £128,000 and £217,750 to £147,000 respectively.