VALUATION OFFICE AGENCY

Website

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Valuation Office Agency website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency.

Latest Publications

• Valuation Office Agency Rent Officers: LHA Historical Rates (31 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valuation-office-agency-rent-officers-lha-historical-rates.

• Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates (31 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates.

• Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates applicable from April 2025 to March 2026 (31 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2025-to-march-2026.

• Non-domestic rating: challenges and changes, 2017 and 2023 rating lists, December 2024 (31 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-2017-and-2023-rating-lists-december-2024.

• VOA: prompt payment data April 2024 to March 2025 (31 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voa-prompt-payment-data-april-2024-to-march-2025.

• VOA launches 2025 surveyor returner programme (30 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/voa-launches-2024-surveyor-returner-programme.

• About us (30 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about.

• Valuation Office Agency: November 2024 transparency data (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-november-2024-transparency-data.

• Valuation Office Agency departmental spending over £25,000 (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/valuation-office-agency-departmental-spending-over-25000.

• Community Infrastructure Levy: how to make an appeal (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy-how-to-make-an-appeal.

• Staying safe from scammers (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/staying-safe-from-scammers.

• Valuation Office Agency Equality Objectives 2025-2028 (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-equality-objectives-2025-2028.

• Third business rates agent suspended (28 January 2025)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/third-business-rates-agent-suspended.

Manuals / Guides / Practice Notes

• Council Tax Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual.

• Council Tax Practice Notes 
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual/council-tax-practice-notes.

• Rating Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-rating-manual.

• Rating Cost Guide 2023
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rating-cost-guide-2023.

• Capital Gains and Other Taxes Manual 
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-gains-other-taxes-manual.

• Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) 
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmos.

• Inheritance Tax Manual 
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-inheritance-tax-manual.

• Land Compensation Manual 
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-land-compensation-manual.

Complaints Procedure

The Valuation Office Agency Complaints Procedure can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-complaints-procedure.

Billing Authority Submission Standards

The latest Valuation Office Agency Billing Authority Submissions Standards can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-billing-authority-report-best-practice.

Appointing an Agent for Business Rates

The guide by the Valuation Office Agency Standards an appointing an agent for business rates can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appoint-an-agent.

A warning of false claims issued by the Valuation Office Agency can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warning-of-false-claims.

Standards for Rating Agents 

The latest Valuation Office Agency Standards for Rating Agents can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voa-agent-standards.

Warning on False VOA E-Mails

A warning of false e-mails from the Valuation Office Agency can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warning-of-false-voa-emails.

Local Authority Partnership Charter

The latest Local Authority Partnership Charter can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-local-authority-partnership-charter--2 and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asiantaeth-y-swyddfa-brisio-siarter-partneriaeth-awdurdodau-lleol.

Equality Objectives 2025 to 2028

The Valuation Office Agency Equality Objectives 2025-2028 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-equality-objectives-2025-2028

Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24

The Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 of the Valuation Office Agency can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024.

Local Government Inboxes

The Local Authority Engagement Team was originally set up to support local authorities with rates retention in England. However, their remit has evolved and extended into Council Tax, Housing Allowance and Wales. The issues are much wider now and 'Rates Retention Team' no longer reflects what they do.

To compliment this, they now have a new mailbox which is LAengagement@voa.gov.uk.

SCOTTISH ASSESSORS

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Scottish Assessors web site at https://www.saa.gov.uk/.

LAND & PROPERTY SERVICES (NI)

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Land and Property Services (NI) web site at www.finance-ni.gov.uk/land-property-services-lps.

The latest on Revaluation can be found at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/landing-pages/ni-reval2026.