changing part of a building from commercial to housing and Business rates

[muckington]

Greetings!

Say if I had a 2 story club/ bar/ drinking establishment premiums. And I applied for planning permission on the top floor to be say C3 (dwelling). Can I have the Business rates removed for the upper floor in question? As .gov dose not stipulate this! Infact Business rates teams say that even if you occupy the property but dont use it you are still liable for Business rates

Thanks

 

[^woody^]

The rate won't change just by getting permission for a change of use.

 

[muckington]

The rate won't change just by getting permission for a change of use.

I mean i dont want to pay any Business rates on that part of the property

 

[^woody^]

You would have to enact any change of use permission and do the conversion work, have the converted areas assessed for domestic rates/community charge, then the commercial areas reassessed.

 

[muckington]

You would have to enact any change of use permission and do the conversion work, have the converted areas assessed for domestic rates/community charge, then the commercial areas reassessed.

Do you know how to do that please?

 

[^woody^]

Once the flats are ready, contact the VOA (online) to have them assessed and the correct council tax bands set. They then notify the local council who creates the individual accounts.

 

[muckington]

Once the flats are ready, contact the VOA (online) to have them assessed and the correct council tax bands set. They then notify the local council who creates the individual accounts.

But that would mean I would have to pay bussiness rates while converting the property into flats; would it not?

 

[endecotp]

But that would mean I would have to pay bussiness rates while converting the property into flats; would it not?

Yes, I believe that is what is supposed to happen.

 

[wessex101]

But that would mean I would have to pay bussiness rates while converting the property into flats; would it not?

It is not my area of expertise but generally I believe for Business Rates you can apply for a rate reduction or exemption whilst the the building is undergoing extensive building work.
I did some work for a valuation surveyor many years ago who specialised in Business Rates appeals and he explained the process to me. It seems that it is a little known subject area and many businesses could be applying for a reduction but they do not know about it. Might be worth speaking to an expert.