GovWire

2.1 The majority of hereditaments in this category will be described in the rating list as University and premises with special category code (scat) 288S.

2.2 University colleges in Oxford and Cambridge will be described in the rating list as University college and premises with special category code 206S the practice note provides definition as to what constitutes a university college.

2.3 Case workers should, on a case-by-case basis, seek advice as to the appropriate valuation method to be adopted for University ancillary land and buildings (scat 439), and university occupations within hospitals (scat 440).

3.1 Responsibility for the referencing and valuation of all universities lies with the National Valuation Unit (NVU) and Specialist Property Inspection Teams.

4.1 This class is dealt with by Specialist Teams in Rating Units. The Class Co-ordination Team (CCT) and the Civics Valuation Panel (VP) have responsibility for this class ensuring effective co-ordination across the business units. The CCT and the VP will deliver practice notes describing the valuation basis for revaluation and provide advice as necessary during the life of the rating lists. Caseworkers have a responsibility to:

• follow the advice given at all times
• not depart from the guidance given on appeals or maintenance work, without approval from the CCT
• seek advice from the CCT before starting any new work

• Re the appeal of Reeves (VO) RA 2007 - in regard to choice of valuation methodology.

• Woolway v Mazars([2015] UKSC 53), and Cardtronics UK Ltd and others (Respondents) v Sykes and others (Valuation Officers) (Appellants) [2020] UKSC 21 in regard to unit of assessment (see also Rating Manual Section 2, Part 2 Hereditament).

• Dawkins (VO) v Leamington Spa Corp and Warwickshire CC (1961) 1 RVR 291, and Imperial College of Science and Technology v Ebdon (VO) and Westminster City Council (1984 LT RA 213) as to the principles of the contractors method of valuation (seeing Rating Manual Section 4, Part 3).

6.1 Hereditaments to be valued by rentals comparison should be measured to Net Internal Area.

6.2 Hereditaments to be valued on the contractors basis should be measured to Gross Internal Area.

6.3 Prior to inspection of a new or newly converted hereditament reference should be made to a NVU Civics Team valuer to establish which code of measurement is appropriate.

7.1 Drawings and area calculations should be filed electronically in EDRM.

7.2 Surveys and valuations should be saved in the Non-Bulk Server (contractors), or RSA (rentals).

8.1 Universities may be valued by either a rentals comparison, or a contractors basis method. Choice of method will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the physical attributes of the subject property, and rental evidence in the locality. In very broad terms, a rentals approach is likely to apply to smaller hereditaments, and/or those similar to office type accommodation, whilst the contractors basis will apply to larger, purpose built, campus style colleges.

8.2 Reference should be made to the CCT lead to establish which method of valuation is appropriate for a new or newly converted hereditament.

8.3 Contractors valuations the statutory decapitalisation rate

View the original news story