City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to do.

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

A whole bunch left earlier, some because they found more workeable studios ( the building has very bad light and low ceilings and is hardly soundproofed), others because they were used to our previous landlords leniency and so were booted out sharpish for non-paiment. But there are three others who also have summons, sadly not on the same day. It would have been nice to go there together in smocks and berets and with very large wooden palettes and easels.

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Miss Fm , very good suggestions, I will take the feudal route and appeal to the hegemoni of Londinium!

[ploddertom]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Have you checked the premises on the Valuation Office website to see if you are paying for only the space you occupy or for more than that. Also have a look at the rate charged per sq m = you may be being charged for retail rate rather than storage.

http://www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/

[MissFM]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

A whole bunch left earlier, some because they found more workeable studios ( the building has very bad light and low ceilings and is hardly soundproofed), others because they were used to our previous landlords leniency and so were booted out sharpish for non-paiment. But there are three others who also have summons, sadly not on the same day. It would have been nice to go there together in smocks and berets and with very large wooden palettes and easels.

If you were all just using the facility for storage then my (totally non-legally qualified) feeling is that you should point out that it is the LL's business being run from the premises and hence his liability

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Dear Ploddertom, yes I have, to no avail. For the Valuations office, it has the right multiplier, whatever the usage. Which is why I need to establish mine was an agreement rather than a commercial tenancy. I think. Aaargh.

[MissFM]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Dear Ploddertom, yes I have, to no avail. For the Valuations office, it has the right multiplier, whatever the usage. Which is why I need to establish mine was an agreement rather than a commercial tenancy. I think. Aaargh.

Yup

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Dear Miss FM, no some were just storing but some worked there, so ...
On another note, you have Campbell, Amethyst has Jung...is the legal profession secretly a cabal of mythological esoterica? We should be told.

[ploddertom]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

My premises are split between retail areas for which I pay a premium dependent on how deep they are this then gets cheaper as it gets to the back of the shop, storage areas are charged at a fraction of the actual retail space.

[MissFM]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

Dear Miss FM, no some were just storing but some worked there, so ...
On another note, you have Campbell, Amethyst has Jung...is the legal profession secretly a cabal of mythological esoterica? We should be told.

Yes it is -:high5:- certainly the Beagle profession-

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

I see. Whereas I have used what was an office as a storage place, hence the VO's unhelpful conclusion. Please stay in the designated areas...

[MissFM]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

I see. Whereas I have used what was an office as a storage place, hence the VO's unhelpful conclusion. Please stay in the designated areas...

I don't think it actually works like that and that is the challenge. For rating purposes, the whole area designated by the valuation officer is considered occupied and hence is taxed. So, joking aside, you need to find a loophole and it does need to be within their exceptions.

[des8]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

There is discretionary provision in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 under Section 44A. to allow councils to make a request to the Valuation Office to apportion the rateable value of the property between the occupied and unoccupied parts where it appears that part of a property is unoccupied and will remain so for a "short time only".

[MissFM]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

There is discretionary provision in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 under Section 44A. to allow councils to make a request to the Valuation Office to apportion the rateable value of the property between the occupied and unoccupied parts where it appears that part of a property is unoccupied and will remain so for a "short time only".

Absolutely, Des - IME (which is in Wales rather than London) a short time means (in practice) up to 8 months (ish)

[giordanobruno]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

I understand that I need a tenable legal argument, I can't just whinge about how unreasonable it is!
Re Des8's point. I was there 9 months, does that not work for me?

[wales01man]

Re: City of London Court Claim for 11,000 pounds for artists storage, no idea what to

As 11k is at stake here is it not wise to get a Solicitors opinion.