Chifley Holdings Ltd (BVI) v The Commissioners For HMRC

Decision date: 25 September 2024

Neutral citation: [2024] UKUT 301 (LC)

Overall AI summary confidence: high

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Short overview

This short overview is intended to summarise the case, issues and outcome so far as they are supported by the judgment.

AI confidence in this short overview: high

This appeal concerned the market value of 12 Chester Square for ATED purposes at 1 April 2017. The Tribunal preferred seven comparables, adopted gross internal area (including the integral garage), used the Savills Central London House Index interpolated to 215.4 for April 2017, and assessed market value at £11,750,000, rejecting the appellant’s lower figure and certain post‑2017 comparables.

Ratio decidendi

This summary is intended to identify the ratio decidendi, meaning the legal reasons for deciding and the binding part of the decision.

AI confidence in this ratio decidendi summary: medium

The Tribunal treated as determinative valuation principles that, for prime central London houses, valuation should be based on comparables a valuer could reasonably have used around the valuation date (with only limited weight given to post‑date transactions the further they are from that date); gross internal area including integral garages may be the appropriate measurement where market practice and comparables do so; and where supported by the evidence a market index (here the Savills Central London House Index, interpolated) may be used to adjust comparables to the valuation date.

Obiter dicta

This summary is intended to identify obiter dicta, meaning observations made by the way that were not necessary to deciding the case and are not binding.

AI confidence in this obiter dicta summary: medium

The Tribunal indicated that limited reliance on shortly post‑valuation comparables can be sensible to confirm market state despite RICS wording, and commented that experts should avoid advocacy and intemperate criticism as it can undermine credibility.