Tribunals · Durham County Council · 2017 rating list

Bridge Hotel, North Road, DH1 4SE

Offices and premises Decided 24 May 2022 CHG100378209 Altus Group - Oakland - Manchester

OutcomeDismissedThe appeal failed and the rateable value was left unchanged.
Original RV£145,000
Ratepayer sought—
VO conceded first—
Tribunal decided—

Figures are as stated in the decision; a dash means the document does not state that figure. This decision covers 26 properties; the figures shown are for the first listed.

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellants proposed a 65% reduction to the rateable value of an office building based on material changes of circumstances arising from the coronavirus pandemic, specifically seeking to reflect government measures and public behaviour changes. The tribunal found that section 1(4) of the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Act 2021 clearly prohibited taking account of any matter directly or indirectly attributable to coronavirus, and that the exceptions in section 1(5) did not apply to these appeals. The appeals were dismissed because the appellants could not point to any change in the physical state of the property or its mode of occupation that fell outside the coronavirus prohibition.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was Vistra International Expansion Ltd, represented.

Grounds argued

  • Change of circumstances
Change of circumstances
covid
Evidence
Expert report
Cases cited
Clement v Addis Ltd; Chilton-Merryweather v Hunt; Pavlou (Valuation Officer); The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch and others; John Burvill and Gareth David Jones (Valuation Officer); Kendrick (Valuation Officer)
Hearing
18 May 2022

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