Blog

26 January 2012 : Business Rate Deferment to miss April 2012 increase

The Department for Communities & Local Government has announced that the Chancellor's deferment of the rise in business rates will not be available in time... Read more

17 August 2011 : Additional Enterprise Zones announced

Government has today announced the following new enterprise zones, in addition to those already named in the March 2011 budget in Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool,... Read more

20 June 2011 : New additions to the Ruddle Merz team!

Within the last few months, Ruddle Merz has strengthened its sales team. Sales Team Leader : Adrian Desborough joined the company in  May. Adrian held various... Read more

11 March 2011 : BID Schemes on the rise

Despite the controversy behind their creation, the majority of BID Schemes (Business Improvement Development) appear to be successful. Bid Schemes are set in place by a... Read more

29 September 2010 : Relief Deadline Draws Near

Rates relief worth 200 million pounds could potentially be lost if small businesses fail to apply for it before the deadline at the end of... Read more

27 September 2010 : Are BID Schemes Worthwhile?

There are currently more than 100 Business Improvement District (BID) schemes in place across the country. The scheme requires local businesses to pay an increased... Read more

13 September 2010 : Impending Government Cuts Worry Struggling Businesses

With more government spending cuts looming and some town centres resembling ‘ghost towns', many businesses are concerned for their survival. An estimated 117,000 premises are now... Read more

08 September 2010 : Help for Pubs from Coalition Government

Official figures show there was a net closure of 3,530 pubs across England under Labour from 1997 to 2010. The new coalition government has proposed... Read more

06 September 2010 : Temporary Increase in Small Business Rate Relief

  As the deadline for the change in small business rate relief (1st October 2010) draws near, Nick Sercombe, Director of Surveying Services at Ruddle Merz,... Read more

03 September 2010 : Congratulations!

Company congratulations go to two of the Ruddle Merz team! Mike Hiseman, Network Support Manager passed his PRINCE2 exam in July this year. A lot of... Read more

16 August 2010 : Shopkeeper facing eviction over unpaid rates

  The owner of a small food and gift shop in Carlisle is facing eviction because she cannot afford to pay her business rates. The business... Read more

12 August 2010 : Additional Rates Savings

Our surveying team have a wealth of knowledge on Empty Space relief and can advise you on a number of strategies to minimise the cost... Read more

12 August 2010 : 2005 Rating List Appeals

The 2005 List closed on 31st March 2010, and no new appeals will now be accepted by the Valuation Office against the 2005 List Complied... Read more

11 August 2010 : 2010 Rating List Goes Live

The 2010 Rating Revaluation is now complete, and the revised 2010 List Rateable Values have been used by Local Authorities to calculate 2010/11 rates liabilities... Read more

11 August 2010 : Allan Milton Retires

In June, Ruddle Merz staff bid farewell to their Business Development Director Allan Milton, who has retired after five years of valued service. A popular member... Read more

11 August 2010 : New Staff at Ruddle Merz

Due to our continued expansion, several new members of staff have been welcomed over the past few months. Faith Johnson has joined the Administration team and... Read more

20 July 2010 : City Centre regeneration off to a flying start

A major boost has been given to Leicester's regeneration plans. Learndirect, the well known training agency, will expand its Leicester base when it moves to... Read more

20 July 2010 : Another blow for pubs?

It seems the rising costs of Sky subscription fees are placing a further pinch in the already cash strapped pockets of some pubs. The huge... Read more

15 July 2010 : Transitional Arrangements

Following the Revaluation, the Government has published details of the Transitional scheme for the 2010 Rating List. But what exactly is Transition, and how does... Read more

02 July 2010 : Emergency Budget response and Business Rates implications

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, recently delivered his much anticipated emergency Budget statement. In it, he acknowledged that Business Rates were a... Read more

30 November 2009 : 2010 INCREASES - CONFUSION ABOUNDS

Average rateable values nationwide are expected to increase by around 15% as a result of the 2010 Revaluation, though uncertainty abounds. In April 2010 a new Rating... Read more

09 November 2009 : Cafés and service stations that offer wi-fi worry rates may increase

Speculation is rife about the impact of wi-fi as The Times recently reported that the government agency that determines business rates has said that it will... Read more

03 June 2009 : Rates Deferral

  Comment from Tim Bonham...   The Government's latest initiative to give businesses the opportunity to defer the recent 5% business rate increase has met with a lukewarm response... Read more

06 May 2009 : The Business Rate Supplement

Comment from Sarah Davey - Head of Rating, London The Business Rate Supplement looks set to become law by 1 April 2010. The Bill will provide... Read more

29 April 2009 : Budget Disappointment

Comment from Tim Bonham... I'm really disappointed that nowhere in the Chancellor's Budget is there anything about abolishing empty property rates. The empty rates taxation will continue... Read more