Small Business Rates Relief and Empty Property

[OptiRick]

If you own a property and the business you rent it to moves out do you become liable for rates? Because nobody is claiming relief (the business got 100% SBBR).
(And you aren't planning to re-let it, you're doing it up to sell)

It would appear so after it's been empty 6 months.

Or, given that you own the property as a sole trader, A N Other trading as A N Other can that entity apply for SBBR and use the address as theirs?

Thanks for any input.

 

[kulture]

I am not sure what your question is. If you own a commercial property and it is not leased to another party then you are liable for rates. This liability may be reduced to zero if you can claim SBRR; it can be zero if it is unoccupied and a listed building; it can be zero if you are doing work on it and it is unoccupied, although other conditions may apply on that.

 

[OptiRick]

I'll attempt to articulate it better,

I've an empty building. If a business was in it, they'd get SBBR.
As it is it's coming up to 6 months empty and according to the Council website we'll start paying business rates.

But technically I am a business in owning it, so can I apply for SBBR? As a landlord albeit with only one property and it being that one?

Alternatively why not just invent a business?
"Rick t/a Rick's exceptionally expensive stuff that nobody will ever buy, ever", and just fail to sell anything.
Then that entity can claim SBBR while we do it up to sell.

Or I could just pay the rates!

 

[kulture]

Why not just ask them. It is so much easier than fiddling. In simple terms, if you own just that one commercial property then you can apply for and get the small business rate relief. No need to set up a "business" nor ask for relief because it is empty, or anything else.

 

[WaveJumper]

Generally, the period is three months unless industrial or warehouse then you get an extra 3 from memory, then you become liable. If you are already receiving relief, you won’t get a second bite of the cherry. You may get relief if you are carrying out refurbishment works and there are plenty of companies around offering advice on how to avoid paying business rates just do a quick Google