Business rates
Rates are a tax on property occupation and the majority of non-domestic properties in the UK will have a rating assessment placed upon them.

The 2005 Rating Revaluation and associated new legislation have presented special challenges.  At Douglas Duff we ensure that an innovative approach is taken to ensure that the costs of rates are minimized for our clients – therefore saving them money.

Our specialist rating team makes appeals on all categories of property and negotiates reductions in rateable value. We are not just rating valuation experts. We also provide an efficient and comprehensive rate liability management service which our clients find is highly cost effective. In many cases we also find over- payments to which Local Councils have not actioned, and therefore save even more costs for our clients.

Compulsory purchase
Compulsory purchase is when the Government, Local Authority or utility company has the legal right to buy or take rights over your private property if it falls within a public or private construction project such as; rail or building works, flood defence works, housing developments, airport expansions or sewer, water or gas pipe schemes.

This is a complex area, which is subject to a mix of well established, newer and less well defined legal interpretations.

A Douglas Duff compulsory purchase surveyor will negotiate successfully on our clients behalf for compensation claims, blight and purchase notice claims to ensure the optimum settlements. If necessary, we can bring our experience to bear at The Lands Tribunal, but more often than not, we are able to avoid confrontations.