Over 200 firms daily face goods seizure for unpaid business rates in England

  • Over 200 firms visited daily by bailiffs for unpaid business rates in the first year after revaluation.
  • 81,000 commercial properties referred to bailiffs in 2017/18.
  • 264 English councils provided data on 1,583,640 out of 1,902,148 liable properties.
  • Altus Group predicts overall number at 81,317 businesses visited, 6.53% faced goods seizure.
  • Birmingham City Council referred most premises to bailiffs, Manchester second highest.

In the first year after the new business rates revaluation, over 200 commercial properties faced bailiff visits daily due to unpaid rates. Altus Group’s investigation revealed that between April 2017 and March 2018, 81,317 businesses had their goods seized by enforcement officers. The government plans to increase the share of business rates retained by councils from 50% to 75% in 2020.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the number of commercial properties referred to bailiffs for unpaid business rates, the percentage of businesses affected by seizure, and the changes in small business rate relief. It also includes relevant data from Altus Group’s investigation and quotes from a representative of the company. The article is focused on the main topic without digressions or personal opinions.
Noise Level: 6
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increase in business rate enforcement actions after the revaluation, but it could benefit from more analysis or context on the broader implications of this trend.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: English councils and businesses
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the impact of business rates revaluation on English councils and businesses, including the number of commercial properties referred to bailiffs for unpaid rates and the government’s plan to increase the share of business rates retained by councils.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text. The situation described is related to an increase in business rates enforcement actions, but it does not qualify as an extreme event.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk