Business rates experts at Alder King say property owners who have paid Empty Rates on a property while it underwent refurbishment over the past two years can now make a backdated claim for a refund.

The news follows a recent decision by the Supreme Court which rejected the Valuation Office Agency's claim that a property undergoing refurbishment was 'in repair' and therefore liable for Empty Rates.

Alan Morrish, partner at property consultancy Alder King, which has offices in Gloucester, said: "Rates used to be a really simple tax. When you occupied a property you paid rates and when you did not, you did not.

"Then the government changed the law and made owners liable for full rates on empty properties.

"To compound the agony, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), the government body responsible for rating, has been taking a really hard-line stance of late, especially in relation to buildings being refurbished.

"£The net result has been a flood of recent case law as owners undertaking refurbishments rightly seek to mitigate their empty rates bills.

"The better news is that, in almost every case which has been to court, the ratepayer has been successful.

"The latest decision from the Supreme Court has now opened the doors for property owners to make a claim for overpaid rates for properties which underwent refurbishment as far back as 1 April 2015."

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk 

Picture: Alan Morrish