Guidance

Guidance notes on completing form VO 7012: proposal to alter the 2010 rating list (English version)

Updated 7 August 2019

This guidance was withdrawn on 7 May 2020

This content is now redundant.

The 2010 rating list is now closed and appeals can only be made in limited circumstances in England.

• To request more than one property be merged together into one or more properties
• To request exemption for all or part of a property which is used as a Nursery Ground

You can make appeals on the above basis between 17 December 2018 and 31 December 2019.

To request more than one property be merged together into one or more properties, download and complete the 2010 proposal form VO7012 (2010) and send it to the VOA. You can do this by clicking on ‘Submit form’ within the PDF.

To request exemption for all or part of a property which is used as a Nursery Ground call 03000 501 501 for advice on requesting exemption for all or part of a property which is used as a Nursery Ground. These guidance notes relate to form VO7012 (2010).

Before you start, you should look up the details of the properties online. Click on ‘Previous Valuation’ to see the 2010 valuation details you will need to complete the form.

1. Introduction

You can make an appeal by making a proposal to alter a rating list. The reasons or grounds of a proposal, and the information to be included, are specified by law. There is no form specified under law for making a proposal. However the VOA have designed form VO7012 (2010) so that, if you complete it in full, all the legal requirements should be met.

The 2010 rating list is now closed and proposals can only be made in limited circumstances in England. In general terms if property is shown as two or more hereditaments and it is within the same occupation then a proposal can be made to show them as one hereditament.

It is important that you enter sufficient information about the property(ies) and the existing rating list entry(ies) to which the proposal relates to enable the Valuation Officer to identify them correctly. If you do not answer all sections fully your proposal may not be valid.

Where your proposal relates to more than one property/entry please ensure all properties are referred to on the form.

If you have any queries about completing the form, or you have any other enquiries you wish to make, please contact your regional Valuation Office and a member of our staff will help you.

2. Who may make a proposal

Effectively this right is limited to the owner or the occupier of, or persons with certain legal interests in, the property concerned at the date the proposal is made. Additionally, former ratepayers of a property who wish to appeal against the 2010 rating list assessment, to merge two or more separate list entries into one or more entry(ies), are able to make a proposal.

3. Time limits for making a proposal

You can make proposals between 17 December 2018 and 31 December 2019.

4. Service of proposals

You must serve (deliver) a proposal to the Valuation Officer responsible for the rating list which contains the property to which your proposal relates.

You should complete the VO7012 (2010) form and send it to the VOA. You can do this by clicking on ‘Submit form’ within the PDF.

You can also send the form by email to ndr@voa.gsi.gov.uk.

To send a paper copy of the form by post, use:

Valuation Office Agency
The Apex Building
Derriford Business Park
Brest Road
Plymouth
PL6 5FL

The Valuation Office Agency is committed to providing a high quality service to everyone it deals with. The standards of service you can expect are set out in the Agency’s charter.

5. Completing the form

5.1 Part A - details of the property / rating assessment

1. Enter the full addresses of each of the properties as shown in the rating list. If the existing rating list address is incorrect please also show here the correct full postal address.
2. Enter the description of the properties, for example “Shop and premises”. This is shown in the online valuation or on a Notice of Alteration issued by the Valuation Officer. It may also be shown on your rates bill.
3. Enter the name of the person who is seeking to alter the rating list.
4. The full postal address of the proposer should be provided here if it is different from the address entered first in box 1. Otherwise enter “as 1”.
5. Enter the rateable values of the properties to which your proposal relates. The rateable values are shown in the online valuations. They are also in column 5 of the rating list, on a Notice of Alteration issued by the Valuation Officer and also on the rates bill.
6. Enter the effective dates shown in the online valuations, in the rating list or in a Notice of Alteration issued by the Valuation Officer for the assessments. If the proposal relates to the original entry shown in a rating list this will be “01-04-2010”.
7. a) If you currently occupy the property, select ‘yes’. If you do not currently occupy the property, select ‘no’. If you occupy part of the proposed new address (to be entered in part B), select ‘occupier of part’.
b) Enter the date you became the ratepayer for the property or properties.
c) If you are no longer the ratepayer for the property or properties, enter the date you ceased being the ratepayer. If you are still the ratepayer leave this box blank.
8. If the property is occupied by the owner tick the box “Owner/Occupied”. If not, enter the name of the property owner in the space provided.
9. If the property owner’s address is different to the addresses in boxes 1 or 4, enter the full postal address of the owner here. Otherwise enter “as 1” or “as 4” as appropriate.
10. Enter the name of the billing authority which collects the rates on the property. The name of your billing authority is shown in the online valuation. It will also be found on your rates bill.
11. Enter the Billing Authority reference number of the assessment(s) (if known). This is shown in the online valuations, or on a Notice of Alteration issued by the Valuation Officer. It may be shown on your rates bill.
12. NLPG UPRN number is the “National Land and Property Gazetteer Unique Property Reference Number”. If you know the number for the property please include it. If you do not then leave it blank.

5.2 Part B - details of the proposed list alteration

This part of the form should be used to record the nature of the change to a rating list that you are proposing.

13. Use the drop down box to select one of two options.

• If you consider that two or more separate list entries should be shown as one or more entries because the properties are touching or adjoining in some way, select “the existing number of entries merged together with effect from”.

• If you believe that your property or properties should be merged and re-divided into one or more properties, select ‘Other changes’.

For either option you should also enter:

• the number of ‘existing entries’ (as listed in box 1)
• the number of entries you think they should be merged into
• the ‘effective from’ date, which is the date you think the alternation should take effect from
• the ‘effective to’ date, which is the date on when this change should end. Only fill this in if you moved out of the property, or the make-up of the proposed new address changed, prior to 1 April 2017

The proposed address(es) of the new property.

5.3 Part C - Grounds for your proposed alteration

14. Check “the properties should be shown as one or more different assessments” is shown here. This is a requirement for a valid proposal to be made.
15. This is an opportunity to explain why the rating list is inaccurate and why you believe it should be altered in the way that you have proposed.

5.4 Part D: details of the person completing this proposal

Completing this will help communication between yourself, the Valuation Officer and any other parties who might be involved in your proposal. We recommend therefore that you complete this part as fully as possible.

16. Tick the box which most accurately describes your involvement in making the proposal on the property. Please tick one box only. If you select “Other Capacity” please explain the nature of the capacity in which you are proposing the change.
17. Enter your name in CAPITAL LETTERS.
18. Enter the full postal address to which correspondence should be sent. If this address has already been entered in full in Part A, enter “as at box 1” or “4” or “8”, whichever is appropriate.
19. Enter your daytime telephone number. If this is a landline, please include the area (STD) code.
20. Enter your email address here if you would prefer the VOA to send correspondence by email. Double-check it is clear and complete.
21. Complete this section with the reference (if any) you would like quoted in all future correspondence.
22. Sign and date. Ensure that all appropriate sections have been completed before signing the form.

6. Submitting the form

Click on ‘Submit form’ to create an email with the completed PDF as an attachment. This email will automatically be addressed to the right VOA email address.

7. Disclosure

Please note that a proposal is a public document and may be inspected by any person on request. The Valuation Officer must also send a copy of your proposal to any other ratepayer of the property to which your proposal relates.