Part Occupied Property Relief allows businesses to reduce their Non-Domestic Rates (business rates) when part of their property is temporarily unoccupied. This relief is designed for situations where only a portion of the premises is in use, and the unused part will remain empty for a short time.
How does it work?
- If a council determines that part of a property is unoccupied but will remain so for a short period, it can request the Assessor to apportion the Rateable Value (RV) between the occupied and unoccupied parts.
- The rates bill will then be based on the apportioned value of the occupied portion only.
- The Valuation Roll is not altered; the Assessor provides apportioned figures to the council.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The ratepayer must provide clear evidence that part of the property is empty.
Relief applies from the later of:
- The date part occupation began, or
- The start of the financial year in which the council requested apportionment.
Relief ends at the earliest of:
- The end of part occupation,
- The end of the financial year,
- A further apportionment being made, or
- The property becoming fully unoccupied.
We may extend the duration into the following financial year in certain circumstances.
If you think you may qualify apply here.