Explanatory note

Under section 45 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 non-domestic rates are payable on an unoccupied hereditament if it fulfils the conditions set out in section 45(1). Those conditions include a condition that the hereditament falls within a class prescribed by the Secretary of State by regulations.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) Regulations 1989 prescribe a class of unoccupied hereditaments on which rates are payable consisting of all unoccupied hereditaments to which none of the conditions in regulation 2(2) applies.

Regulation 2(2)(g) exempts from non-domestic rates a hereditament shown in a non-domestic rating list compiled on 1st April 1990 the rateable value of which is less than 1,000. These Regulations increase that figure to 1,500 for the purposes of a hereditament shown in a list compiled on or after 1st April 1995.