With over 16 years’ experience in property, Jess Hand heads up the Business Rates team at Black Cat Consulting. In this interview, she discusses her background in the industry, the challenges facing businesses ahead of the 2026 Revaluation, and the key trends shaping the real estate landscape.
What is your background and experience in the property industry?
I graduated with a Masters in Property during the recession, at a time where businesses needed to save every penny. I fell into working in Business Rates as a result of this, and was fortunate to land in a service line with suits me perfectly – it allows my inner geek to thrive from a valuation and legislation point of view, and I get to make long term partnerships with clients by focusing on people and relationships.
Over the past 16 years, my client base has grown, and most of have stuck with me along the way, allowing me to set up Black Cat Rating. My job focuses on reviewing portfolios and maximising every single opportunity to make savings for clients. It means I am always learning and always busy, both of which I love.
Can you tell us a bit about your business and what you do?
Black Cat, as a business, is traditionally a building surveying firm, set up 10 years ago by two contacts of mine, Ben and Stephen. It’s gone from strength to strength and in recent years has diversified in order to anticipate clients’ needs. I joined in 2025 (after a few years of gentle persuasion from Ben) to head up our Business Rates team. It is a perfect fit for Black Cat, who pride themselves on being a people business and getting under the skin of their clients’ portfolios. Adding Rating means a joined-up approach to our clients’ projects, identifying Rates savings earlier, reducing costs during redevelopment or refit works, and adding value.
In the run up to the 2026 Revaluation (1st April 2026) I will be focussed on ensuring clients have their 2023 RVs fully covered off, these are valuations set in 2021, mid Covid, and more often than not the market at that time has not been taken into account. With the appeal deadline looming in March, it will be a busy few months making submissions to the VOA, and preparing clients for 2026 onwards.
Who are your typical clients and how do you market your service?
My clients range from landlords with large investment portfolios, to occupiers, to Fire Services, to Universities. For landlords we look at their void costs, as well as helping tenants reduce their occupational costs, ultimately leading to tenant retention. We also provide budgeting advice, submit appeals during redevelopment, and provide account management. For occupiers, we review reliefs, reduce RVs and provide holistic every day advice.
Mainly my clients come through word of mouth and referrals, I try and spot opportunities others might have missed so that people feel safe referring their clients on to me.
How did you first cross paths with Newmanor Law?
I was introduced to James and Karen as “fabulous people to know in property, who love cricket”, which is really all the information I needed. I then invited Karen to watch the 100 at Lords, where we discovered we have acted for a lot of the same client types – both of us seem to have a passion for working on shopping centres! Both firms are relationship-driven which is great.
What are the key challenges currently facing real estate and how are you addressing them?
All businesses are involved in real estate to some extent, whether it’s a University, a retailer or a car park operator. At a time where businesses are seeing higher and higher operating costs, reviewing and reducing business rates can have such an important role. So many businesses accept their bills or think any saving is a win when there could be so much more. In 2026, many businesses will see huge increases in their property tax bill, with the increase in 2026 Rateable Values and the government introducing a new higher multiplier for RVs over £500,000. This is going to be a huge challenge and what we do helps just a tiny part of a business’ overheads, hopefully making them more viable and cost-effective.