Ei Publican Partnerships (formerly Enterprise Inns) is boosting support for its publicans looking to access independent advice on their business rates.
Ei Group recognises that business rates are one of the biggest overheads for any business and, ahead of the new revaluation effective April 2017, has taken steps to ensure its publicans are able to access high quality, independent, advice.
The company has carefully scrutinised suppliers to ensure those appointed have the right level of expertise and professionalism. Given the expected demand for advice on rates appeals following the revaluation, it has now appointed a third company to its preferred panel of rating advisers. The advisers are: Colliers International, Harris Lamb and Lambert Smith Hampton.
A competitive success-based fee has been negotiated with the advisers, with payment only made if rates are reduced. The instruction and payment arrangement is direct between the publican and their chosen supplier and Ei Group doesn’t benefit if publicans use their services.
The company has examined the impact on its estate and believes that whilst rateable values (RV) are set to increase overall, with pubs in London and the south east of England particularly hardest hit, a significant number of pubs will nevertheless see their RV reduced and rates bills fall from April.
Publicans are able to check their new RV assessment online via a government website, or discuss with their Ei Publican Partnerships Regional Manager who will be able to help with simple and quick access to the professional advice available.
Simon Millar, Estates Director at Ei Group, said, “We recognise that the changes to business rates will be a concern to our publicans and we are determined to offer them the best support possible to help them navigate their way through the appeals process.
“In the past, we have heard of circumstances of publicans being cold-called by perhaps less scrupulous advisers, which is really not how we would prefer our publicans to be accessing business rates advice. Some of these less reputable firms give a relatively poor service and take a large up-front, non-returnable, fee from publicans.
“We’ve decided to work with a panel of three selected specialist firms to support our publicans in ensuring they are paying the correct amount for their business rates. By choosing to use a member of our preferred panel of professional Chartered Surveyors, our publicans know they will be accessing a quality service that is both professional and reliable.
“Even if a pub receives a reduction in rates, that doesn’t automatically mean that that the new level shouldn’t be reviewed and potentially appealed as, in some cases, the proposed reductions should be a lot bigger.”
Ei Publican Partnerships will be writing to all publicans shortly, providing contact details of the three advisers and recommending the one it feels may be most suited based on its location, prior experience and knowledge of the local market.
The three suppliers will also be on hand to offer specialist advice to publicans at this year’s six eilive roadshows, taking place across the country during April and May 2017.