Local authorities and commercial property owners face considerable delays in rate reviews this month because of a work to rule over staffing in the General Valuation Office.
Normally, at this time of year, valuation officers assist local authorities in their rate reviews. The reviews are an important part of the process of local authority budgeting for the coming year.
IMPACT's Mr Peter Nolan said the process will be seriously affected. There will also be problems for owners of premises who feel they are currently over or undervalued. Commercial transactions could suffer delays if properties do not possess up-to-date valuations. The union wants the post of chief staff valuer filled. It has been vacant since March 1996.
