Empty property rates

The full charge to rates on empty properties was introduced in April 2008. A relief is to be provided from April 2009 for properties where the rateable value does not exceed £15,000. The £15,000 threshold will go some way to helping smaller businesses.

Baker Tilly analysis

The empty property rates rules were changed in the last Budget in the hope that the extra cost would encourage property owners to bring them into use. The depressed property market has resulted in many owners rendering the properties unusable in order to avoid the charge.