Rightly Rated vs a rating agent
Both get you to the same place: a Challenge with evidence. The difference is who does the clicking, and what it costs.
| Rightly Rated | Typical rating agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | £99, £199 or £349 one-off by rateable value, inc. VAT | Many charge 25%–50% of savings (some from 10%), sometimes plus upfront fees |
| Who submits | You, in your own GOV.UK account | The agent, using your authorisation |
| Evidence | VO-published comparables, reasoning, draft statement | Professional judgement, site visits, negotiation |
| Best for | Shops, offices, workshops, warehouses with clear local comparables | Complex, specialist or high-value properties |
| Regulation | Software tool, not a surveyor | Look for RICS-regulated firms |
| If it fails | You paid a fixed fee | No-win-no-fee is common |
When an agent is worth it
If your property is unusual (a hotel, a pub valued on turnover, a factory with plant and machinery), worth hundreds of thousands a year, or you simply want someone else to handle every conversation, a good RICS-regulated surveyor earns their fee.
Watch out for
- Cold calls promising guaranteed reductions. Nobody can guarantee one.
- Fees charged on savings for the whole list, or on reliefs you would have got anyway.
- Being asked to let an agent create your GOV.UK account. GOV.UK says not to.
Fee terms published by UK rating agents, surveyors and a trade-body partner service, checked October 2026. Some agents charge less (from 10%, sometimes capped) and some add upfront fees. Agents do the work for you, and RICS-regulated surveyors can be worth it for complex or high-value properties.