Paragraph 1

Where, in the case of any rating area in which, by virtue of a resolution under section 17 of this Act, this Schedule is in operation, any relevant hereditament in that area is unoccupied for a continuous period exceeding three months, the owner shall, subject to the provisions of this Schedule, be rated in respect of that hereditament for any relevant period of vacancy ; and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly as if the hereditament were occupied during that relevant period of vacancy by the owner.

Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the amount of any rates payable by an owner in respect of a hereditament by virtue of this paragraph shall be one-half of the amount which would be payable if he were in occupation of the hereditament; and no reduction shall be made under section 48 of this Act in respect of any rates so payable.

Where a relevant hereditament which is unoccupied becomes occupied on any day and becomes unoccupied again on the expiration of a period of less than six weeks beginning with that day, then, for the purpose of ascertaining any period of three months during which the hereditament has been continuously unoccupied and any relevant period of vacancy in respect of the hereditament, it shall be deemed to have remained unoccupied on that day and during that period.

In relation to a relevant hereditament which is a newly-erected dwelling-house within the meaning of this Schedule, the foregoing provisions of this paragraph and the definition of " relevant period of vacancy " in paragraph 15 of this Schedule shall have effect as if for any reference to three months there were substituted a reference to six months.