Business Rates

Legislation requires Councils to issue completion notices in order to identify the day when the work remaining to be done on a new building (or a conversion) could be completed, and it becomes rateable for Non-Domestic purposes.

(A new or altered dwelling does not require a completion notice once it becomes occupied).

Where the work on a property is not yet completed, the completion date will be the date that the Council considers the work will be substantially complete. It is then entered onto the Valuation List with effect from that date.

The process often involves site visits and the notice may be served up to three months in advance of the anticipated completion date with the billing authority forming an opinion as to how long any outstanding works should take.

You can help us to set the correct date by allowing an internal inspection of the property to see what works still need to be done.

The Valuation Officer will enter the property on to the valuation list with effect from the completion date provided to him by the Local Authority.

Disagreement with date

If you do not agree that the outstanding work can be completed by the date shown in the notice, you may appeal to a valuation tribunal. The completion notice will normally state the date by which you should appeal. That will be within four weeks from the date the notice was sent.

Please contact the Business Rates section on 01200 414451 to discuss your concerns before submitting your appeal. It must be made in writing stating the grounds for the appeal and should be accompanied by a copy of the Completion Notice that has been issued to you. Further information can be found at the Valuation Tribunal Services website.

Business rates charge

If a new (or altered) property is unoccupied, it is exempt from the Non-Domestic Rate (Business Rates) for a period of up to three  months in the case of commercial properties and six months for industrial properties.

Once a property is occupied, the exemption will cease. Any periods of occupation of not more than thirteen weeks are disregarded for exemption purposes.

Examples

• An industrial property is deemed to be complete on 1 May, and remains unoccupied until 1 December. From 1 May to 31 October it falls within the six month unoccupied exemption category, therefore there will be no charge. From 1 November the owner will be liable for a 100% charge and then from 1 December the occupier will be liable for a 100% charge.

• A commercial property, such as a shop or an office, is deemed to be complete on 1st May, and remains unoccupied until 1 December. From 1 May to 31 July it falls within the three month unoccupied exemption category, therefore there will be no charge. From 1 August the owner will be liable for a 100% charge and then from 1 December the occupier will become liable.