Tribunal Hearing

Reduction Agreed:

Office accommodation in Curzon Street, Westminster.

Our case workers Mr. H Berlin & Mr. J Berlin together argued against the Valuation Office to reduce the business rates at 7 Curzon Street. In negotiations the Valuation Office would not agree to reduce, and even persuaded other firms to withdrawn their appeals. We believed in the case so much that we took the matter to Tribunal (court).

The independent panel were supplied with our expert report and also the Valuation Officers report. At Tribunal oral arguments were heard from both sides and following this there were cross examinations. The parties then rested and the Tribunal informed us they will write to both parties within 21 days with there ruling.

Hammer Properties have just been informed that the Tribunal ruled in our favour and determined there should be a reduction as per our arguments. As a result the rateable value has been reduced from £107,000 – £100,000 with effect from 1st April 2010. In real terms this means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) given by the local authority.

Year/Rate	£107,000	£100,000	Saving
2010-11 41.4%	£44,298.00	£41,400.00	£2,898.00
2011-12 43.3%	£46,331.00	£43,300.00	£3,031.00
2012-13 45.8%	£49,006.00	£45,800.00	£3,206.00
2013-14 47.1%	£50,397.00	£47,100.00	£3,297.00
2014-15 (average 48.0%)	£51,360.00	£48,000.00	£3,360.00
2015-16 (average 49.0%)	£52,430.00	£49,000.00	£3,430.00
2016-17 (average 50.0%)	£53,500.00	£50,000.00	£3,500.00
TOTAL	£347,322.00	£324,600.00	£22,722.00