Terms of Statutory Engagement

These terms set out the contractual basis upon which RatesReclaim undertakes non-domestic rating audits, Form SBRR-1 filings, and retrospective cash restitution claims under Section 43(4B) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

Effective Date: 1 April 2026

ICO Reg: ZC136598

Primary Act: Section 43(4B) LGFA 1988

Restitution Guarantee Terms of Engagement Privacy & Data Notice Complaints Charter Regulatory Disclosure

1. Legal Status & Operating Entity

RatesReclaim operates as the commercial rating division of Verified Entitlements (ICO Registration: ZC136598; Official Correspondence: audit@ratesreclaim.co.uk).

Non-Agency Notice: RatesReclaim is an independent commercial advisory practice and is neither the Valuation Office Agency (an executive agency of HM Revenue & Customs) nor an official municipal billing authority. We represent commercial tenants and owner-occupiers in enforcing mandatory statutory entitlements against municipal billing authorities under English law.

2. The Two Statutory Execution Models

Clients may engage our services under one of two mutually exclusive statutory execution pathways:

Model A: Full-Service Contingency (30%)£0 Upfront Risk

Hands-Free Municipal Recovery

Zero Upfront Out-of-Pocket: RatesReclaim investigates the rating ledger, formulates the Form SBRR-1 statutory declaration, liaises directly with council revenues officers, and rebuts clerk objections at zero initial charge.
Contingency Fee Trigger: A success fee of exactly 30% (+VAT if applicable) applies strictly to retrospective cash received in the ratepayer bank account. Payable within 14 calendar days of cleared council funds.
100% Future Savings Retained: Client retains 100% of all future ongoing annual savings (+£3,285–£4,500+/yr) forever. £0 ongoing agency fees.

If the council does not disburse, your fee is strictly £0.00.

Model B: Turnkey Council Claim Kit (£195)Retain 100% Refund

Self-Submission Statutory Dossier

Instant Bespoke Formulation: Delivery of a 4-page statutory legal dossier, comprising senior cover notice, pre-drafted Form SBRR-1 declaration, 6-year actuarial restitution schedule, and Limitation Act 1980 escalation instructions.
Zero Ongoing Agency Fees: The client lodges the package directly with the council and retains 100% of all recovered cash funds and ongoing annual rate abolition.
100% Money-Back Guarantee: If your local council lawfully establishes in writing that our calculations were incorrect or that you are ineligible, we refund the £195 in full within 48 hours.

Governed under our binding Statutory Restitution Guarantee.

3. Ratepayer Declarations & Statutory Eligibility Criteria

The ratepayer explicitly warrants and represents to RatesReclaim that:

The subject commercial hereditament is the ratepayer's sole commercial property in England (or meets the secondary hereditament RV threshold under Statutory Instrument 2012/148).

The Rateable Value of the property on the active or relevant compiled rating list does not exceed £15,000 (£12,000 for 100% statutory relief).

All business tenancy commencement dates and council account numbers supplied during the assessment are true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.

The enterprise has not exceeded the Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) threshold of £315,000 over three consecutive fiscal years under the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

4. Regulation 4 SI 1989/1058 Mandatory BACS Payouts

Under Regulation 4 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1058), where a billing authority has credited an overpayment to a ratepayer's non-domestic rating ledger, the council is legally compelled to remit the balance to the ratepayer upon request, rather than holding dead credits in municipal reserves. RatesReclaim enforces this regulation to compel direct bank remittances via BACS.

5. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim.

Protected by Binding 100% Statutory Guarantee

Check Your Commercial Hereditament Entitlement

Under Section 43(4B) LGFA 1988, single commercial properties with RV under £12,000 have £0.00 liability. Calculate your backdated cash refund in 60 seconds with zero upfront financial risk.

Launch Calculator