Reliefs for empty or newly re-occupied properties

Empty Property Relief

All empty properties can get 50% relief from non-domestic rates for the first 3 months they're empty. They can then get a 10% discount after that.

Empty industrial properties can get 100% relief from non-domestic rates for the first 6 months that they're empty. They can then get a 10% discount after that.

You can get 100% relief for the whole time a property is unoccupied, if:

• 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)

Contact your local council to see if you're eligible or to apply.

Fresh Start

Under Fresh Start, businesses occupying certain long-term empty properties may be entitled to a 100% business rates discount for their first year in those premises.

You may be eligible if:

• you started occupying the property on or after 1 April 2018 and the property had previously been empty for at least 6 months
• the property has a rateable value up to £95,000

Contact your local council to see if you're eligible or to apply.