When Is A Property Seen As Vacant?

If a property has been unoccupied for 30 days or longer, it is considered vacant, and you will be responsible for paying vacant property rates unless your property is exempt. This regulation applies to all unoccupied residences, regardless of whether they’ve been left unoccupied owing to an impending sale or rental, repairs, or probate.

Empty Property Relief

An unoccupied property is eligible for a 50% non-domestic rate decrease for the first three months it is unoccupied. They would then be eligible for a 10% discount. When an industrial property is empty for the first six months, it is completely free from non-domestic rates and does not have to pay vacant property rates. They would then be eligible for a 10% discount.

vacant property rates

If you meet the following criteria, you can receive 100 percent relief for the whole period a property is unoccupied:

  • it’s a listed building
  • it has a rateable value under £1,700
  • it’s owned by a trustee for sequestration, liquidation or executors
  • the company who owns it has been wound up
  • by law, the property cannot be occupied
  • it’s under a compulsory purchase order
  • it has no buildings (empty ground)

Northern Ireland Vacant Property Rates

All domestic premises in Northern Ireland with a rateable capital valuation of £20,000 or more are subject to standard property rates (whether occupied or not). If the capital value of the property is less than £150,000, the owner is liable for paying the rates. If the land’s capital worth exceeds £150,000, the occupier is responsible for paying the rates.

Yellow and Black Heavy Equipment Near Unfinished Building

Fresh Start

Under the Fresh Start program, businesses leasing such long-term unoccupied properties may be eligible for a 100 percent business rate reduction for the first year in specific locations.

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible:

  • You moved into the property on or after April 1, 2018, and it had been vacant for at least 6 months before that.
  • The rateable value threshold will raise to £95,000 on April 1, 2021, if the property’s rateable value is less than £65,000.