Empty Property

Empty Property Rates

There will be no Business Rates to pay for the first three months that a property is empty.  For Industrial properties only, this period is six months.  After that, an Empty Property Rate of 100% of the full Occupied bill will be payable. 

Some properties, such as listed buildings and properties with rateable values of less that £2600, pay no empty rates even after the first three months, or six months for Industrial property, have expired.  

The government has made a temporary change to empty property rates for the year 1st April 2010 - 31st March 2011 only.  For this year the rateable value limit for exemption from empty rates has been increased from less than £2600 to less than £18000.  The £2600 limit will apply again after 31st March 2011.

Details of other exempt categories (PDF, 8kb) can be found on the website or by telephone on 01473 433851 between 8.45 am and 4.45 pm each week day.

Different rules applied up to 31st March 2010.  If you need details of those previous arrangements, please phone the number above. 

Partly Vacant Property

Discretionary relief may be available where part of a property is vacant for a short period of time.  Applications are considered on an individual basis.  Further information is available by calling 01473 433851 between 8.45 am and 4.45 pm each week day.