Duty to Notify is one of the most significant recent changes to the rating system. It requires ratepayers to inform the VOA about relevant changes to hereditaments in a timely and accurate way. For agents, that means new responsibilities in how client portfolios are managed.
At first glance, Duty to Notify may seem straightforward. In practice, it creates risks if hereditament data is incomplete, inconsistent or out of date.
Submitting incorrect or missing information can still be treated as a failure to notify. Even if the error was unintentional, penalties may apply and reputational damage can follow.
Changes in tenancy, occupation or physical alterations must all be captured. If records are not kept current, required notifications may be overlooked, creating compliance risk.
Clients want confidence that their obligations are being managed properly. Accurate data helps demonstrate that compliance is under control and that nothing important has been missed.
Directors, compliance officers and regulators will often want to see not only the result but the process behind it. A clear audit trail shows exactly what was reported and when.
Many of the difficulties with Duty to Notify arise from fragmented data. Information scattered across email inboxes, spreadsheets and paper records is easy to lose track of. Without a single reliable source, inconsistencies can arise and obligations may be harder to manage.
Centralised systems provide one version of the truth. They make it easier to capture changes consistently, to ensure nothing is overlooked and to demonstrate compliance if challenged. They also reduce the time spent searching for information or reconciling conflicting records.
For agents, Duty to Notify is more than a compliance requirement. It is a call to improve the way data is managed. Reliable, accurate information is the only way to meet the new standard with confidence.
Inform’s software supports rating professionals in achieving that level of accuracy and traceability, helping them strengthen processes and maintain compliance standards.
For the latest updates on Duty to Notify and to see how we can support your organisation, contact our team on 0161 669 8165.
This article is for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional advice.
