Rates campaign intensifies
The campaign for empty property rates to be scrapped has moved up a gear in advance of the Budget.
Calls for empty property rates to be scrapped have stepped up a gear
Campaign leader the British Property Federation (BPF) has launched a website www.emptyrates.com to highlight the chaos of demolitions and scrapped regeneration schemes caused by ending rate relief on empty properties.
Pubs have been hit by the move, announced one year ago, which means firms are forced to pay full rates on empty properties. Previously they received a 50% rates reduction.
The BPF has also rejected Government claims about concessions it announced in November, where premises with a rateable value below £15,000 would not have to pay for one year.
Chancellor Alistair Darling said the exemption would help 70% of property owners, but BPF said this figure was “greatly exaggerated” as it included “properties” like cash machines and public toilets.
A large alliance of the main opposition parties, local authorities and business groups — including the British Beer & Pub Association and the British Hospitality Association — back calls for the relief to be re-instated.
John Wright, Federation of Small Businesses national chairman, said: “Taxes on empty property create an unnecessary financial hardship for small businesses, compromising regeneration schemes, and constraining the supply of affordable commercial property. This tax should ultimately be scrapped.”
To Comment: Login or Register