Many commercial landlords and business occupiers across the UK—especially in London—may be paying too much in business rates without realising it. Errors in rateable value (RV), relief eligibility, or property status often go unnoticed, leading to unnecessary costs over months or even years. Fortunately, a business rates rebate for overpaid commercial tax may be available if the overpayment can be proven.
At Fraser Bond, we work with landlords, developers, and commercial tenants to help them recover overpaid business rates by identifying valuation errors, missed reliefs, and historic mischarges—maximising cash flow and financial efficiency.
You may be eligible for a rebate if you’ve overpaid business rates due to incorrect assessments, missed reliefs, or administrative errors. Common triggers for rebates include:
Property size, layout, or use class recorded incorrectly
Comparables used by VOA are outdated or irrelevant
Material changes (e.g. part-demolition, subdivision) not reflected
Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) not applied
Empty property relief not granted when eligible
Hardship, charitable, or partial occupation relief overlooked
RV not adjusted after a change of use, closure, or part-vacancy
Relief not applied during temporary unoccupancy or renovation
Overpayments resulting from late billing authority corrections
Backdated revaluations following successful VOA appeal
Unclaimed credits sitting in closed or transferred accounts
Most business rates rebates can be backdated for up to six years, depending on the nature of the overcharge and when the error was identified.
Review all rates bills issued by your local authority
Confirm RV listed in VOA records matches the actual property status
Identify any periods where reliefs may have been missed
Use the VOA online portal to submit a “Check”
Provide evidence (floorplans, leases, planning documents, photos)
If the error was administrative (e.g. missing relief), contact the council directly
Request a correction and refund for the overcharged period
Engage professionals like Fraser Bond to analyse records, appeal assessments, and secure maximum rebate recovery
Fraser Bond provides a comprehensive rebate review and recovery service for landlords and occupiers of commercial property across London and the UK. We help you:
Identify overpayments from miscalculated RVs or incorrect billing
Secure backdated reliefs and refunds (including SBRR and unoccupancy exemptions)
Liaise with VOA and local authorities for swift resolution
Handle appeals, document preparation, and valuation evidence
Recover historic payments across multiple properties or portfolios
Whether you operate a single shop or manage a multi-unit commercial estate, our team ensures you’re not overpaying and that all recoverable amounts are claimed efficiently.
If you suspect you've overpaid business rates on your commercial property, take action today. Fraser Bond’s expert advisors can help you recover past payments, correct ongoing charges, and optimise your property tax liabilities moving forward.
Visit FraserBond.com to schedule a business rates review or speak with our team about your rebate eligibility.
