Promoting and enhancing best practice and technical expertise

The 22nd National Rating Day

The National Rating Day has become a major fixture in the Rating calendar. Attended by over 300 delegates, it is the largest gathering of rating practitioners year on year; and is a must attend event if you work within the profession. The event looks at the here and now, policy and reform and best and effective practice. Speakers represent the private sector, the Valuation Office Agency and the Valuation Tribunal Service. The 2022 hybrid edition follows the same compelling ingredients. If you are involved in rating work, this is the event that is said to be too important to miss.

Start Date Venue Price  
9 June 2022 Congress Centre, London    
9 June 2022 Virtual Conference Attendance    

Note: All prices are to be paid in GBP and are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate

Event duration: Day Event (5 hours CPD) (Lunch Included).
Registration from: 09.15 (09.55 for Virtual Attendance). Event starts at: 10.00. Event finishes at: 17.30.

Download and print your full course brochure here not available

Rating is both loved and hated.  

  • The Fundamental Review confirmed it’s the property taxation system of choice for Government; which has committed a substantial increase in funding to the VOA to deliver 3 yearly revaluations and reform to their systems.   
  • The tax is supposed to be a major funding base for local government, but many local authorities argue they are underfunded, and are having to manage a decline in the level of services.  
  • Equally, many businesses lobby that the rating multiplier is too high, unsustainable and stifling enterprise.
  • Yet, during the pandemic, the system was used to deliver grants and reliefs to businesses.  
  • At the same time, rating policy has diverged between the devolved national administrations. What is its impact on businesses? Are we now entering a period where business rates liabilities could be dictated by your postcode? How might this play out in practice?
  • Could the development and refurbishment sectors, whilst being asked to ‘build back better’, be affected by business rate risk and by policy decisions?
  • With the Reval 2023 closing in, how is the VOA preparing for it, and what does the rating world predict will be the changes to liabilities?

This and much more will feature in the 22nd National Rating Day.  

2022 will be the first time in 2 years that delegates will be able to meet in person. The event will be run as a hybrid conference – you can attend in person or virtually. Whilst those attending virtually will provide their own food and refreshments, the costs of producing the show for broadcast means that the price shall be the same whichever format you choose; and this allows flexibility for individuals; and certainty the event will take place.

Speakers

Programme

Welcome & Introduction from the Conference Chair - Tim Johnson


Policy and Its Impact

Policy Update

  • We are entering a new era of diverging national policies?
  • What are these policies?
  • How do they vary between the devolved governments?
  • NDR and CT Reform proposed in Wales

What Do Businesses Think of the Reforms and Diverging Policy?

  • Did the Fundamental Review deliver for businesses?
  • What are the wants from business?  
  • What reform is still required?
  • Location: Location: Location 
    • The emergence of freeports as an incentive for business
    • Business has the ability to locate where they choose, and can take advantage of managing rents, salaries and labour markets for example.  If rate liabilities vary across home nations, is this a new dynamic?

Valuing for the Future: Transforming the VOA

Local Government Funding through Business Rates 

A Focus on Reval 2023

How is the VOA Preparing for the Task

  • Plus valuation predications for bulk classes;
    • Retail
    • Industrial 
    • Office

Current Rating Practice

Where are we Now With:

  • MCCs
    • VOA policy
    • Policy -v- Practice
    • Legislative clarity 
  • Receipts and Expenditure 
    • R&E review
    • Looking outside the box (reference to the comments from the UT(LC) in Stephen G Hughes v Exeter City Council [2020]) 
  • Monk Revisited 
    • How many challenges are there in the system? 
    • What are the emerging rules for successful challenges?
    • When is it disrepair?
    • The latest VT decisions that affect practice

    CCA - Where are We Now?

    Whilst the rules have not changed, CCA processes, both good and not so good, have evolved. Coming into the final year of the 2017 rating lists, where are we now?  

    • What does best practice now look like?
    • Common pitfalls that lead to failure of challenges
    • What are “unlawful” and “incomplete” challenges and how to deal with them?
    • Unit of Assessment (UoA) issues and checks/challenges - What is the status of a challenge where the unit of assessment may also be in question?
    • Verification of information – what is reasonably required?
    • What happens if the reasons for refusal are wrong or tenuous?
    • Should extensions be accepted and how should parties respond?
    • What happens at the end of the 2017 Lists?

    Upcoming

    What's in Rating for Future Generations? 

    • The recent review confirmed the ongoing future of rating, but what’s in it for people wanting to work in the industry?
    • What are the VOA and employers offering by way of careers?
    • What are the motivations for people wanting to work in rating?
    • Hear some voices from those that will be the future of the rating
    • Hear what the RSA and a leading employer see as the key drivers for sustaining a career in rating
    • At a macro level, how will firms need to adapt?
    • Where will rating get its practitioners?

    Case Law Update

    • Cases from the battlefield