Rogue business rates agents

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) continues to urge businesses to protect themselves from rogue business rates agents.

Businesses can challenge their valuation if they think it’s incorrect and manage their own business rates by creating a Business Rates Valuation Account on GOV.​UK.

Businesses can also use a rating agent do this. The VOA has produced a checklist to help businesses if they want to use a business rates agent. Most agents are reputable and provide a good service, but there are some rogue agents who submit inaccurate information for their gain. This could result in penalties or increased rates bills for businesses; visit GOV.​UK for more advice on how to choose a reputable agent.

The VOA has also recently published a new set of agent standards on theGOV.UK website

These standards encourage good practice from agents when representing customers on business rates and Council Tax.

The standards set out how agents must act in:

• their behaviour
• their professional practice

They also set out the level of service agents should provide to their customers, such as providing clear communications and responding in a timely manner.

All agents should maintain high standards that promote compliance.