Scottish Assessors

Draft Valuation Notices FAQs

  • The name/address/description of the property on my Notice is not correct, what should I do?
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    Please make the necessary amendments here, if you are asked for a FORM ID you can use your assessor reference number.

    OR

    Make the relevant change on the notice and scan it/photograph it or similar and email to the email address on your notice

    OR

    If you are not able to scan/photograph etc, advise of the relevant change in an email to the email address on your notice ensuring it contains the reference number

    As a further alternative, recipients could add the correct name/address/description of the property to the notice and return it to the address on your notice.

  • Can I tell how much my rates are going to be?
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    No. Your rates will be dependent on the final RV set in March, the rate poundage which will be announced by the Scottish Government on 15 December and any reliefs that you might be entitled to.

  • I don’t currently pay rates/I only pay part rates, does this mean that I will need to pay rates next year?
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    Not necessarily – that will depend on the reliefs that the Scottish Government set for 2023/24.

  • I currently get Small Business relief – will that continue next year?
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    That will depend on the reliefs that the Scottish Government set for 2023/24. We understand that the government remain committed to supporting small businesses, but the relief given and the Rateable Value thresholds that apply might well change. The details of any scheme may be included in the government’s budget statement on 15 December.

  • My business has been badly affected by COVID – does the Rateable Value take account of that?
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    Rateable values are set relative to April 2022 so they do reflect the effect of COVID on the property market at that time.  Non-domestic rates is a system that is based on property values rather than business success.

  • Can you explain how my valuation was arrived at?
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    The Rateable Value shown on the Notice is the Assessors estimate of the annual rental value of each property at 1 April 2022.

    Valuation details for Shops (including salons, banks etc), offices, workshops, stores, shooting rights, schools, halls, museums, art galleries, self-catering accommodation, and several other property types are available at the portal by carrying out a search for the property (see above for guidance), selecting “2023 Proposed value”, and clicking on “View valuation”.

    There are many different methods of valuation dependent on what type of property you are in. Practice Notes that provide information on valuation methods are available on the Assessors portal here.

  • Can I appeal my Draft / Proposed Rateable Value?
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    No, but, if after checking the valuation and those of other properties around you, you think the Draft Value is wrong, you can make a representation to the Assessor.

  • Why do we have Revaluations?
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    Revaluations are carried out to ensure that each ratepayer’s liability reflects ever changing property values and to ensure that each ratepayer pays an equitable share of the rates collected nationally.

  • Is this just a way for Council/Government to make more money?
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    No. Revaluations are generally financially neutral in that no more money is raised as a direct result of a Revaluation than if one did not take place. The Assessor is statutorily independent of both Government and local Councils and does not benefit from increased Rateable values in any way.

  • No one has visited my property so how can you set a new value?
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    The Assessor holds extensive property information such as layouts and sizes of property and ingathers lots of information in advance of each Revaluation. Valuations are therefore based on the details already held on file for your property and any additional information that has been collated locally and nationally.

    If your property has undergone changes you can notify the assessor using this form or by contacting your local Assessor, contact details are held here.