2. Empty property relief
You don't have to pay business rates on empty properties for three months.
The following properties can get extended empty property relief:
- industrial premises (for example, warehouses) are exempt for a further three months
- listed buildings - until they’re reoccupied
- buildings with a rateable value under £2,900 - until they’re reoccupied
- properties owned by charities - only if the property’s next use will be for charitable purposes
- community amateur sports clubs buildings - only if the next use will be for sporting use
Please tell us when your property becomes vacant by calling 01395 517445 or emailing businessrates@eastdevon.gov.uk
Section 44a relief - partly occupied property
Ratepayers are liable for full non-domestic rates whether a property is wholly occupied or only partly occupied.
However, in certain instances, the Council has the discretion if part of a property becomes temporarily vacant, to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. This is called Section 44a relief.
When considering an application for discretionary rate relief the following factors will be taken into account:
- The circumstances leading to the partial occupation
- What is the intention of the business in relation to the unoccupied parts
- Evidence that the unoccupied part will be empty for a short term only
We will not normally give relief under this provision where:
- Part occupation is likely to exceed a short time
- Part occupation is seasonal
- It appears there is no effort being taken to let, sell, re-occupy or totally vacate
- It is for a retrospective period
How to apply
Email businessrates@eastdevon.gov.uk or
Write to:
Business Rates team
East Devon Devon District Council
Blackdown House
Border Road
Heathpark Industrial Estate
Honiton
EX14 1EJ
and include:
- The period for the relief
- The reasons for why relief should be given and the circumstances leading to the partial occupation
- A plan of the rated premises which clearly identifies the occupied and the unoccupied areas
- A declaration as to the amount of special drawing rights the applicant or any other organisation in its group under the UK-EU TCA as prescribed in the last 3 years.
The premises will need to be inspected in order to verify the information that has been provided.
If we decide to grant the relief, we will ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to apportion the rateable value of the property between the occupied and unoccupied parts. Relief will only be granted on the unoccupied part for up to three months (six months for industrial property). This mirrors the statutory exemption for empty premises.
If you do apply for Section 44a relief, please continue to pay your business rates as shown on your bill while your application is being processed.
Taking a property out of rating
If your property is not capable of beneficial occupation – for example, if it is in poor condition and cannot be economically repaired – the VOA may decide it should be taken out of rating altogether.
However, if a property is damaged for the purposes of avoiding rates, under new anti-avoidance legislation introduced by the government, the VOA will be required to disregard the change in the property’s state when assessing its rateable value.
You can contact the VOA at gov.uk/contact-voa. If you are unable to use the online service you can also contact the VOA on 03000 501 501