In general, there will be no Business Rates to pay for the first three months that a property is empty. The exemption lasts for six months in the case of industrial premises. After that, a full charge will be levied, whether the property is empty or not.

Where a property is empty and the rateable value is below £2,900, no Business Rates will be payable, even after the initial exempt period has passed.

The following is a full list:

• Unoccupied business property (exempt for up to 3 months)
• Industrial business property (i.e. where no part has been constructed or adapted for the purpose of retailing goods or services). This type of property can exempt for up to 6 months
• Business properties where occupation is prohibited by law
• Business properties where occupation is prohibited by action taken by the Crown or any local or public authority
• Listed buildings (subject to a preservation notice under s.58 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971)
• Ancient monuments (as scheduled under s.1 to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979)
• Business properties with a rateable value of less than £2,900
• Unoccupied business properties where the owner is entitled to possession only in his capacity as the personal representative of a deceased person
• Unoccupied business properties where the owner is subject to a bankruptcy order or a winding-up order under the Insolvency Act 1986
• Unoccupied business properties where the owner is entitled to possession only in his capacity as a trustee under a deed of arrangement or as a liquidator under the Insolvency Act 1986.