Legal

Engagement terms

Version 2026-07-13.3 · document SHA-256 abe8a8cefde25cdd38ac2d605ab9f298f7954bd5a8d30a45cfb53b15a187c747

RATEWISE ENGAGEMENT TERMS 2026-07-13.3

1. Parties and scope
The adviser is the Ratewise contracting entity identified in the case schedule, registration number as identified in the case schedule, of the service address identified in the case schedule (Ratewise). The customer instructs Ratewise to review the identified England or Wales non-domestic rating-list assessment, prepare evidence and, only after the approval gates below, manage the Check, Challenge and any separately agreed appeal.

2. Approval gates and authority
Written acceptance of these terms is not an official appointment. The customer must separately appoint Ratewise in the government business-rates service. Ratewise must not record a Check, Challenge or appeal as submitted unless the official appointment is confirmed, the customer has supplied accurate facts and a named competent reviewer has approved the evidence. The customer remains responsible for the accuracy of facts supplied and must not provide Government Gateway credentials.

3. Success fee
There is no upfront professional fee. If the identified case achieves a lower rateable value, the professional fee before VAT is 25% of the recovery basis. The recovery basis is (a) the actual billing credit or refund recorded for the case, plus (b) the actual annual bill saving confirmed for the case multiplied by the time remaining from the recorded decision date to 2029-04-01, calculated on a 365.25-day year. Estimates are never used for the invoice. No VAT is charged unless the engagement is updated before instruction. Third-party tribunal, expert or legal costs require separate written approval and are not included automatically.

4. Customer decisions and case conduct
The customer may ask Ratewise to stop before submission. Ratewise may decline or close a case where evidence is insufficient, information appears inaccurate, a conflict arises or continuing would breach law or published agent standards. A reduction, effective date, credit or timetable is never guaranteed. Business-rates bills remain payable while a case is open.

5. Information, automation and records
Ratewise may use deterministic screening and approval-gated AI drafting, including operations-queue-triggered status proposals. Automated output does not decide the valuation, send itself or submit a case. Case evidence may be shared with HMRC's Valuation Office, the billing authority, a tribunal and contracted providers only as needed for the service and as described in the privacy notice. Rating-list data is used only for permitted non-domestic-rating purposes.

6. Communications, complaints and liability
Notices may be sent through the secure dashboard and the verified account email. Complaints follow the published complaints procedure. Ratewise's professional-indemnity cover is the professional-indemnity cover identified in the case schedule. Nothing excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. Any specific liability cap, cancellation right or independent-redress route that applies must be stated in the signed engagement schedule; if that schedule conflicts with these terms, the schedule controls.

7. Law
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Mandatory statutory rights are not affected.

Before instruction, the secure case page presents an immutable schedule identifying the contracting entity, property, fee and VAT treatment, professional-indemnity cover and treatment of appeal or third-party costs. The accepted version and document hash are retained with the case. Obtain independent advice if you are unsure.