First there was the two-year delay to the business rates revaluation.  Then came potential massive rates hikes and changes to the appeals process.And just before the new regime started on 1 April, the Chancellor performed an apparent U-turn in his first Budget, creating further uncertainty.

No wonder there has been widespread confusion across the business world on the first changes to the ratings system for seven years.

Prior to the Budget, the headlines screamed of business rates doubling or more and curbs on appealing unfair revaluations – a potentially bitter pill after one million appeals were lodged against the 2010 listing’s 1.9 million hereditaments, and a staggering 300,000 of those were still unresolved in January this year!

That has been replaced by a more complicated process which makes it difficult for business owners to assess their position without the need for professional expertise.

From last month, all ratepayers wishing to appeal their rateable value (RV) must employ the ‘Check, Challenge, Appeal’ process, supporting their claim with substantial evidence – with the prospect of fines for submitting incorrect analysis.

On the plus side for occupier clients, many will benefit from an increase to the Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) threshold, with the RV to qualify for 100% SBRR doubled to £12,000 and tapered relief up to £15,000.

Also, the standard business rates multiplier of £0.48 will be applied on RVs up to £51,000, rather than £18,000 currently.

And Phillip Hammond MP announced three further measures in his Budget:

• A cap so rates rise by no more than £50pm for small businesses losing rate relief
• A £1,000 discount on business rates for pubs with RVs of less than £100,000 (90% of pubs)
• A £300m discretionary relief fund for local authorities to distribute