You can download Rating in Brief, or read the articles online:

Occupiers could face unprecedented rates increase

In December 2008, with the country on the verge of economic collapse, Rating in Brief considered the likely impact of the government’s empty property taxation policy on speculative development and the synchronisation of supply and demand.

Are you taking advantage of available relief?

Business rate payments place a heavy burden on many organisations. Yet, due to a lack of awareness, available relief is often under-utilised. Here is a brief summary of what’s available.

Empty property: courts reward absolute compliance

Two increasingly popular routes to the legitimate avoidance of business rates tax are to exercise rights under Empty Property Rate (EPR) and charitable relief legislation.

Rates bills soon to outstrip council tax

In 2015, for the first time in a decade, government income from business rates will exceed council tax collections; unrepresented occupiers will soon be paying more to the Exchequer than those with the right to elect their government.

Retailers lack consensus on business rates

With the Portas review now a fading memory, ex-Wickes boss Bill Grimsey has published his own perspective on the plight of the High Street.

Shale gas valuation challenge comes to light

Fracking, the extraction of natural gas from shale deposits stored underground not only provokes strong environmental opinion, it also represents the latest challenge for the world of rating and valuation.