Before employing a rating advisor to act on your behalf in making an appeal against the rateable value of your property, you should satisfy yourself that he or she has the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate indemnity insurance.

Members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct.

You should also be wary of false or misleading claims.

We are aware of agents who do not explain, for example, that a reduction in rateable value may not necessarily lead to a reduction in the amount of rates you will have to pay. This is because there are overriding limits on how much rates bills can change from year to year under the transitional relief scheme.