CVS appointed to appeal Harlequins RUFC business rates

Something must be up if Harlequins are turning to a Wasp for help. The issue uniting these old enemies is business rates – and 'Quins has appointed CVS, the business rates specialist headed by London Wasps Chairman and former Club Captain, Mark Rigby, to appeal its rates charges.

'Quins – like many other Clubs in the Aviva Premiership – has seen its business rates hiked as part of the recent revaluation and as the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) catches up with the commercialisation of rugby. According to research by CVS, the average increase in business rates charges across Premiership Clubs is 129%, with 'Quins bill on its Stoop ground up by 135%. CVS estimates that total business rates charges across Premiership Clubs have gone up by a total of more than £2 million.

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive of CVS, said: "Professional rugby is big business and that means the tax man is inevitably going to be after a piece of the action. Looking at business rates, it’s no surprise that the Government has hiked these up because clubs are using their stadia to generate significantly higher revenues than they were just a few years ago. That’s why testing the valuation and appealing against it is important for Clubs who disagree with the charges. As a Wasp, I may not say this very often but I am delighted to be working with 'Quins and CVS is working hard to secure them a reduction on their new business rate charges."

CVS, established in 1999, is one of the UK's fastest growing property services companies. It has a growing portfolio of nationally and internationally recognised clients ranging from SME and niche businesses to blue chips.