Business rates will not be payable in the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties.
Certain categories of unoccupied property may be exempt indefinitely from a charge:
- properties with a rateable value less than £2,899 (effective from 1st April 2017)
- occupation prohibited by law
- vacant due to action taken on behalf of the Crown
- listed building subject to building preservation notice
- ancient monuments included in schedule compiled under Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act 1979(b)
- owner entitled to possession only in his capacity as personal representative of a deceased person
- a bankruptcy order subsists in respect of the owner’s estate
- owner entitled possession as trustee under deed of arrangement
- owner is a company subject to winding-up order under the Insolvency Act 1986 or being wound up voluntarily under that Act
- owner in administration or subject to an administration order
- owner entitled to possession in their capacity as liquidator
