Services
The same verified data behind the datasets and tools, applied to your specific decision. Fixed quotes, sources on every figure, and no percentage-of-savings fees — where something is free to do yourself, we say so and link the guide.
Area report
For businesses choosing where to open, landlords, investors and advisers
One document that answers 'what is this area really like to do business in': the number of businesses operating by trade and how the mix is shifting, commercial stock and rateable values by sector, planning activity and constraints, the council's charges and premiums, crime and deprivation context — plus the verified department contacts to act on it.
What you get
Businesses by trade (counts, births, deaths, survival rates) for the council area
Commercial property stock, floorspace and rateable value by sector
Planning context: application activity and published constraints
Council charges: tax, premiums, and fees as verified from council sources
Crime, deprivation and population context from official statistics
Verified council department contacts for planning, licensing and rates
Council tax challenge — evidence pack
For households and landlords who suspect the band is wrong
The challenge process is free, and our guide shows you how to do it alone. What decides outcomes is evidence. We assemble it from the verified dataset: band comparables around your property, valuation-date analysis, parish and precept detail, and a clear read on whether your case is strong — including telling you when it isn't.
What you get
Neighbouring-property band comparables, mapped and sourced
Valuation-date (1991/2003) analysis for your property
Parish, precept and area-variation detail from the verified dataset
A submission-ready pack for the VOA or Scottish Assessors
A straight assessment of challenge risk — bands can go up as well as down
Business rates challenge — support
For ratepayers and their agents using Check, Challenge, Appeal
Evidence preparation for non-domestic rating cases: comparable rateable values and floorspace context for your property class, plus screening against your council's published relief schemes — small business, retail, discretionary — many of which go unclaimed. Fixed quote, no percentage of savings.
What you get
Comparable rateable value analysis for your property class and area
Floorspace and sector context from official statistics
Relief eligibility screening against your council's published schemes
Evidence pack formatted for the VOA Check/Challenge stages
Late-night licence application — support
For shops, takeaways, restaurants and bars applying to open later
Done-for-you support for a new premises licence or a variation to extend hours — built on the one thing that decides these cases: comparable licensed hours nearby. We pull every comparable premises from the council's own register, build the evidence pack, draft and submit the application, and handle the standard dialogue with police and environmental health. Fixed fee from £895 +VAT; council fees and the statutory advert are passed through at cost, and we never take a percentage. Licensing application support, not legal representation — if a case needs a solicitor at a contested hearing, we tell you.
What you get
Comparable licensed-hours evidence from the council's public register
Application or variation drafted and submitted on your behalf
The statutory public notice and newspaper advert handled for you
Standard representations from police and environmental health managed
An honest read on your chances before you spend a penny on fees
Hearing representation quoted separately if the case is contested
On a budget? The £10 Challenge Kit is the self-serve version of the evidence pack. Rather do it fully yourself? Start with challenging your band (free process, step by step) or explore any area free via the national tables and empty homes data.
Frequently asked
What is in a CouncilData area report?+
A bespoke, source-linked report on a council area: businesses operating by trade and how the mix is changing, commercial property stock and rateable values by sector, planning activity and restrictions, local charges (council tax, premiums, fees), crime and deprivation context, and the verified council contacts you'll need. Every figure carries its source — official statistics and our verified datasets, never estimates.
Isn't challenging my council tax band free?+
Yes — and our free guide walks you through doing it yourself. What we prepare is the evidence: neighbouring-band comparables, valuation-date analysis, parish and precept detail from the verified dataset, assembled into a submission-ready pack. You stay in control and file it yourself; we never take a percentage of your refund.
How does business rates challenge support work?+
Through the VOA's Check, Challenge, Appeal process. We prepare the supporting evidence — comparable rateable values, floorspace context, relief eligibility screening against your council's published schemes — for you or your agent to submit. For non-domestic rating purposes only, and we tell you honestly if the numbers suggest a challenge isn't worth making.
How are these services priced?+
Fixed quotes per report or case — no percentages of savings, no contingency cuts. Tell us what you need via the contact form and we'll quote before any work starts.