28/02/2020
So, this is a copy of the most recent email sent to New River South region manager, Stuart Mitchell.
As there has been no response/acknowledgement, I'm sharing it with our supporters. We, as tenants, were deliberately misled in order to save our landlords from paying business rates on empty units. If you look up the rules and regs about empty units, you'll realise why we have 3 "ping pong parlours", 2 "yoga classes" and one unit dedicated to advertising the proposed development. New River are con artists and MSDC have been sold a lie.
Dear Stuart,
You may or may not recall that, from May 2018- September 2019, I was the tenant in the above property, trading as Boomerang Barbershop.
When we were in discussion with your representative Debbie Rathbone, we were told the unit did not qualify for Non Domestic rates.
However, after signing our lease, we were contacted by Mid Sussex District Council informing us that, in fact, we WERE liable to pay rates. This was a major contributory factor in us being forced to close our business. Having been successfully trading in Burgess Hill for nearly 20 years, you can understand this decision was not made lightly.
With this in mind, I recently submitted a Freedom of Information request, asking for details of previous NDR payments. This information has been approved and it shows that New River have indeed made payments to MSDC as well as applying for empty unit relief, thus proving that you were well aware of our obligation to pay but chose to lie about it. This, in my opinion, makes you liable.
I put it to you that we were misled in order to secure a tenancy and, while I accept liability to a point in as much as I should have checked our rateable value, I saw no reason to as you are supposedly responsible landlords with a duty of care to your tenants. I believe you also gave false information to other businesses, leading them into financial difficulties.
I would ask, in the first instance, that you consider rectifying this mistake by refunding the total amount paid by myself, including charges incurred, a total of £8590.
If this is not something you would consider, I will have no option but to seek advice as to whether NRR have acted inappropriately, causing financial hardship and mental stress to my business and myself as well as other business owners. I would hope that, considering the current bad press surrounding your company, you may see fit to refund our NDR and, perhaps, offer to pay the NDR associated with other businesses along Church Walk.
If I do not hear from you by 28th February 2020, I will have no other option than to consider appropriate action.
Yours sincerely
Jo Stone
