Tribunals · South Lakeland District Council · 2017 rating list

Woodlands Hotel, Woodlands Hotel And Pine Lodges, Meathop, Meathop, LA11 6RB

Guest house and premises with restaurant and bar Decided 3 February 2023 CHG100415076 John Houston Consulting

OutcomeAllowed in partThe tribunal reduced the rateable value, but by less than the ratepayer sought.
Original RV£49,000
Ratepayer sought£29,500
VO conceded first£48,250−2% before the hearing
Tribunal decided£41,750from 21 Jan 2020

Figures are as stated in the decision; a dash means the document does not state that figure.

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellant challenged the VO's rateable value of £48,250 for a guest house with restaurant/bar and eleven self-catering lodges, seeking £29,500. The tribunal allowed the appeal in part, reducing the RV to £41,750. On the guest house element, the tribunal found the property's remote location warranted a lower price per double bed unit (£1,200 vs £1,400). For the self-catering lodges, the tribunal accepted the VO's Fair Maintainable Trade method at 13.5%. For the bar/restaurant, the tribunal adopted 5% of FMT rather than the VO's conflicting figures, finding this better reflected the income position.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was an individual ratepayer, represented.

Grounds argued

  • Comparable assessments (tone) · decisive
  • Valuation method
Evidence
Trading accounts, Expert report
Cases cited
Lotus and Delta v Culverwell; Gardiner & Theobald LLP v David Jackson
Hearing
20 January 2023

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