Hilary Wescombe

My experience spans all rating lists from 1973 to present day and includes appeals relating to the assessment of a broad spectrum of premises including retail, large retail, office, serviced offices, industrial, educational and healthcare.

I work with a variety of clients including; Peugeot Citroen, Northamptonshire County Council, Birmingham City Council SunGard Availability Services (UK) Ltd, Rank Xerox.

MY RECENT PROJECTS

• Serviced Offices – I advise serviced office operators with particular reference to mitigating rates by optimising the number and arrangement of rating assessments and advising on billing and payment matters such as SBRR, EPRR including mitigation, forecasting and budgeting.
• Disturbance – Advising across all sectors I have secured rate liability savings by negotiating allowances to take account of disturbance affecting clients’ property. For example I have secured a 15% allowance across all the assessments at a clients’ serviced office centre to reflect nearby road and building works causing noise and loss of amenity.
• Compulsory Purchase – I am acting for Birmingham City Council in connection with preparation and regeneration ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.  I have negotiated the early possession of a number of premises providing advice to our client and engaging with owners and occupiers ahead of the construction of a new station ticket hall building.