Lease Consultancy, Southampton

After initial discussions with Southampton City Council Planning Department, it was agreed that the solution to the planning issue was the submission of an application for a Non Material Amendment to remove the obstructing condition, thereby opening the potential uses of the premises to those originally suggested by the planning officer on the last application, i.e. Light Industrial or Research and Development.

With regards to the business rates, Veritech appointed Hellier Langston via the .gov.uk portal to act as agents and a ‘Check’ submission was made to split the assessment into two, with one reflecting Veritech’s occupation and the other encompassing the vacant space. This split entitled Veritech to six months of 100% business rates relief on the vacant space, saving them in excess of £8,000, as not only were they entitled to the relief, but the combined total rateable values of the two separate assessments were significantly lower than the previous single assessment. 

With the advent of the new September 2020 Use Classes Order, the open Light Industrial (B1(c)) or Research and Development (B1(b)) consent which had been achieved then became Use Class E, encompassing other previously separate uses.

Hellier Langston secured the first tenant for part of the vacant space - Miss Devon Baynton trading as Pretty Fit. The new Use Class E meant that Miss Baynton was able to use her space as a personal fitness studio. As a sole trader, Miss Baynton would be entitled to 100% small business rates relief on premises with a rateable value of less than £12,000. Having reviewed the assessment for the vacant space, Hellier Langston calculated that the space she was occupying would indeed have a low enough rateable value to gain this relief and therefore a second ‘Check’ submission was made to split the assessment of the formerly vacant space reflecting the new occupation.

Having split the rating assessment for a second time, Hellier Langston relaunched the marketing of the last of the vacant space and secured Radio Tactics Group Ltd as the second occupier. Their operation was an ideal fit for both tenant and landlord, with Radio Tactics valuing the security that Veritech and the premises could provide, whilst Veritech appreciated a tenant that would not cause access problems through the secure shared yard area.

Veritech MD, Paul Oldridge said:“We spent many months advertising unoccupied units at our premises with various commercial property letting agents, but to no avail. Upon several recommendations, we decided to employ the services of Hellier Langston; not only did they manage to find quality tenants within just a few months, they also found the sort of tenants we were looking for.

"Much to our amazement they also entered into successful communications with the local council to remove a restriction which could have prevented us letting our vacant space. They then dealt with the Valuation Office Agency to split the business rates and obtain discounts for the unoccupied parts. I have never received service to this level before; the communication between us was always faultless.

"I was never in a position where I had to ask for an update and it was like they were a department within our business. To top it all off, their one-off fee was very acceptable for both transactions. I would highly recommend Hellier Langston’s services.”