Exemptions

From 1 April 2008 the majority of industrial properties that have been empty for more than six months and other commercial properties empty for more than three months will no longer be eligible for any relief on the business rates. Once the initial three or six month exemption period has expired, the empty property charge will be 100 per cent of the occupied rates.

There are some types of property that will be exempt from the empty property charges:

• premises which are owned or leased by a registered charity or a community (amateur sports clubs will be exempt from the empty property charge and will have a zero rating)
• non-industrial premises which currently qualify for exemption from rates under the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) (unoccupied property) regulations will continue to be exempt from the empty property charge
• the property is a listed building
• occupation is prohibited by law
• the ratepayer is bankrupt or in liquidation, this will be up to the date the property is sold or lease is disclaimed by the Official Receiver or Insolvency Practitioner
• the ratepayer is only entitled to occupy as the executor of a deceased person

You will not normally have to apply for these exemptions. However, if you receive an empty property rate account and you think the property should be exempt, you should contact us immediately quoting your payment reference number.

All empty properties will be inspected by the Council to confirm that it is empty. If access cannot be gained to the property within a reasonable period, the Council will withdraw the 50 per cent relief or total exemption and send an account for the full occupied rates.

Some types of property are fully exempt from business rates. This means that no business rates are charged for them.

Exempt properties include:

• agricultural land and buildings
• fish farms
• churches and other places of worship
• sewers
• public parks
• certain property used for disabled people
• swinging moorings for boats