Empty property rates are payable on most commercial properties by the 'person entitled to possession'. This is usually the leaseholder or tenant if there is one, or the freeholder if not.
For the first 3 months a property is empty no rates are payable. This period is extended to 6 months for property classed as industrial including factories, warehouses and workshops.
Thereafter empty rates are charged are 100% of the occupied rate unless one of the exemptions below applies
- Those where the rateable value is less than:
£2,200 from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2009
£15,000 from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010
£18,000 from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011
£2,600 from 1 April 2011.
£2,900 from 1 April 2017.
- Properties where occupation is prohibited by law.
- Properties empty due to action taken by the crown or by any public or local authority, either to prevent occupation or to acquire the property e.g. a compulsory purchase order has been made.
- Listed buildings or those subject to a preservation order.
- Properties where the person liable would be so only in his/her capacity as a personal representative of a deceased person, a liquidator or a trustee under a deed of arrangement, properties where the person entitled to possession is the subject of insolvency proceedings, the owner is a company in administration.
If you believe that your property qualifies for an empty rates exemption, please email business.rates@leeds.gov.uk with full details of your property and the date it became empty.
