Apply for a business rate reduction

There are 2 types of property occupancy relief.

Unoccupied property rating

You don't have to pay business rates for the first 3 months that a property is empty. For certain industrial property this period extends to 6 months.

After that, most empty property will be liable for 100% of the basic occupied business rate. If the 3 or 6 month empty period has already been granted, you will have to pay full business rates.

Exempt properties

Some unoccupied properties remain exempt from paying business rates even after the 3 or 6 month period expires. These include:

• properties with a rateable value of less than £2,899 from 1 April 2017
• listed buildings
• properties where occupation is prohibited by law
• properties where the owner is bankrupt or the company is subject to a winding up order or is in administration

Charities

There are special rules for properties used by a charity. For more details contact the Business Rates team.

Partly occupied property relief

You have to pay the full business rate if a property is wholly or only partly occupied. Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, we have discretion to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. For more details contact the Business Rates team. 

Contact the Business Rates team

Telephone: 020 8726 7000, option 4.

Email: croynndr@croydon.gov.uk

Business Rates team
Croydon Council
5th floor, Bernard Weatherill House
8 Mint Walk
Croydon CR0 1EA