Business Rates Portfolio Review | Multi-Property Savings Check

Why Portfolio Reviews Matter

Helping businesses understand their business rates position.

When reviewing a single property, opportunities can appear modest.

Across multiple properties however: Small discrepancies multiply, Inconsistent valuations emerge, Rental evidence varies by location, Sector trends impact entire estates.

For a refresher on the figure being reviewed at each site, see rateable value explained.

A portfolio approach allows strategic coordination rather than isolated appeals. We conduct portfolio reviews across retail, hospitality, office and industrial, charity and healthcare sectors.

Who This Is For?

This service is suitable for: Property investors, Asset managers, Hospitality groups, Retail chains, Industrial portfolio owners, Education trusts, Multi-site operators.

If you manage more than two commercial properties, a coordinated review can often deliver stronger outcomes than separate submissions.

What a Portfolio Review Assesses

An independent specialist may examine:

Valuation consistency across sites.
Comparable evidence trends.
Revaluation impacts.
Sector-wide rental movement.
Backdating potential.
Risk exposure across appeals.

The aim is to identify structured, evidence-based opportunities.

Potential Outcomes

Depending on the property profile: Targeted reductions on specific properties, Coordinated appeals strategy, Backdated refund opportunities, Risk-adjusting appeal planning, Identification of properties not suitable for appeal.

Not every portfolio will show opportunity - but scale often reveals patterns not visible at single-property level.

Estimated Impact Across Portfolio

For illustration only:

If 5 properties show an average £3,000 annual reduction: £15,000 annual saving with £30,000 to £60,000 potential backdating (subject to period).

Larger estates naturally scale further.

How The Process Works

Submit basic portfolio details.
Preliminary screening conducted.
If viable, detailed valuation evidence reviewed.
Appeals pursued only where justified.

No obligation at screening stage.

For the steps a formal Check and Challenge involve at each property, see how the business rates appeal process works.

Backdating runs per property from the date its Check was submitted: see how business rates refunds are calculated.

You can also review what happens after you submit your details before proceeding.

Frequently asked questions

How is a portfolio review different from checking one property?

A single-property check compares one assessment against nearby comparables. A portfolio review looks across all of your assessments together: whether similar units in the estate are valued consistently, which locations carry the largest discrepancies, and where the same rental evidence should have led to the same result. Differences that look modest on one site often add up across several.

My properties have different lease start dates. Does that matter?

Yes, in two ways. Rents agreed close to the April 2024 valuation date are the strongest evidence of a property's value at that date, so leases signed around then carry more weight than older ones. And because any reduction is backdated to the date each property's Check was submitted, the order you submit in affects how much can be recovered.

How do you decide which properties to challenge first?

A preliminary screening ranks each property by the size of the apparent gap against comparable evidence, the rateable value at stake, and the strength of the evidence available. The largest, best-evidenced gaps go first. Properties whose assessments look in line with comparables are left alone, since a challenge there carries risk for no likely gain.

Can a portfolio review keep valuations consistent across a chain?

That is one of its main purposes. Where units of similar size, type and location are assessed at different levels, the review identifies the outliers and the evidence that explains them. Consistent treatment across the estate also makes each individual Challenge easier to support, because your own properties become part of the comparable evidence.

Is there a cost to a portfolio screening?

No. The initial screening is free and carries no obligation. Fees for any formal work are typically contingent on a successful outcome, and each property is pursued only where the evidence justifies it.