No relief on empty property will hit rural economy

The CLA today said the Government’s shock decision not to extend business rates relief on empty business properties will hit the rural economy hard.

The Association said small to medium-sized businesses in the rural sector make a crucial contribution to the UK economy and that the Government was unjustified in making landlords pay tax on all empty properties with a rateable value of more than £2,600.

CLA President William Worsley said: "This is an outrageous tax from the Government. Applying Non-Domestic Rates to empty property is a disincentive to investment for providing and improving rural business premises to let. It is more likely to encourage demolition and other actions to make buildings unusable to avoid this unjustifiable tax.

"We would also like to see empty property relief from business rates extended indefinitely to all business premises where broadband is not available. Rural business premises without broadband do not attract tenants."