22 December 2005

Support and advice for householders and businesses following the Buncefield explosion

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is working with Dacorum Borough and St Albans District councils to support local people whose properties were either destroyed or damaged by the Buncefield Oil Depot Explosion.

Depending on the severity of the damage sustained, occupiers of properties affected by the blast may be entitled to a reduction in business rates or council tax. To ensure that everyone is aware of any entitlements that may be due to them, information is now available from a number of sources:

Dacorum Borough Council is placing information about relief schemes for council tax and business rates on its website – www.dacorum.gov.uk

Additional information is also available from the VOA – the Government Agency responsible for setting rateable values and council tax bands. The VOA’s website – www.voa.gov.uk - contains helpful information on how properties are valued for rates and council tax purposes. Additional advice for anyone whose property was destroyed or damaged by the explosion will be available from 23 December. For those who do not have Internet access, or feel they need to discuss the details of the damage to their property a VOA help line is available from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. The number is 01727 774700.

If occupiers have structural reports or photographs of damage, they ought to contact the VOA as soon as possible. This will help to ensure that any reduction to business rates or council tax bills can be effected quickly.

Andy Booth, the VOA’s Group Valuation Officer at St Albans commented:

“Our first duty is to the local taxpayers at this difficult time. Staff from our St Albans office visited the site as soon as the emergency services gave the all clear and we have quickly identified those properties most severely affected by the explosion. Those whose properties were less severely affected may be unsure of their entitlements. If anyone is in any doubt, please speak to us and we’ll do everything we can to help.”

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Notes for editors:

About the Valuation Office Agency

The Valuation Office Agency is an Executive Agency of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. It is responsible for valuing domestic properties for council tax purposes in England and Wales; the rating assessments of all business property in England and Wales; valuations of land and property for Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax; and Right to Buy determinations in England, Wales and Scotland. It also carries out valuations for other government departments and some local authorities. The Valuation Office Agency has around 5500 employees and a national network of 80 offices providing service and assistance at a local level.

Further information can be found on the website at www.voa.gov.uk

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