Wards Solicitors Ltd, 6-8 Fountain Court, BS32 4LA

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellant, a solicitor's firm, argued that a 32.5% size allowance should be applied to the property's £100m² valuation, resulting in a revised rateable value of £30,000. The appellant contended that as a merged three-unit office with a lower rent than comparable single units, the large size merited a quantum allowance. The tribunal rejected this argument, finding that the rent increase to £115.07m² on renewal at a standard 5-year lease term was comparable to smaller units on the same office park, and that the original lower rent reflected a landlord break clause rather than size discount. The tribunal upheld the Valuation Officer's revised assessment of £44,500.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was Wards Solicitors LLP, represented.

Grounds argued

• Quantum or end allowance · decisive
• Rental evidence

Evidence

Rents, Settled assessments

Cases cited

Lotus and Delta v Culverwell; R v South Staffordshire Waterworks Co; Humber Ltd v Jones; Gardiner & Theobald LLP v David Jackson

Hearing

13 May 2021

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