Valuation Appeals (Hansard, 19 January 1999)

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many valuation appeals have been lodged since 11 March 1998 in which the appellant cites the decision in the Benjamin vs Anston Properties Ltd. case. [66511]
450W

§ Ms Armstrong
A total of some 135,000 proposals to alter the rating list were made during the period 1 April to 31 December 1998. It is not possible to say how many of these proposals will rely on the Lands Tribunal decision in Benjamin vs Anston Properties in support of their proposals.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 11 January 1999,Official Report, column 71, if he will publish the evidence and working papers on which he based his estimate of the number of properties which might be in a sufficient state of disrepair to encourage owners to appeal against their valuation for rating purposes. [66513]

§ Ms Armstrong
It is not possible to say with any accuracy how many properties are in disrepair at any one time. However, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) believe that most non-domestic properties will require routine repairs to be carried out within a 3 to 5 year cycle, and it is likely that some properties would not have such work carried out within this normal repair cycle.
The VOA estimate that a maximum of 15 per cent. of the total of 1.7 million non-domestic properties may fall into this category at any one point in time, and that their condition may be such that the occupiers may seek to obtain a reduction in their rate liability as a result.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information an appellant must supply in order to lodge a valuation appeal. [66512]

§ Ms Armstrong
The information to be provided in making a proposal to alter the rating list is specified in regulation 5A of the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/291 as amended). A proposal should include the name and address of the proposer and the capacity in which he makes the proposal; the identity of the property, and the respects in which it is proposed that the list be altered. The proposal should also include a statement of the grounds on which the proposal is made, although this does not restrict the grounds on which an appeal can be argued at a Valuation Tribunal.