140 apply for rate exemption

From October 2011, empty property rates became payable on all domestic properties with a rateable capital value of £20,000 or more with the amount due the same as when the property is occupied (generally ignoring any reliefs awarded when occupied).

Now Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has revealed that 140 applications for rates exemptions have been received from Londonderry landowners in the last eight months.

He provided figures for “the number of applications received by LPS from ratepayers to seek to remove properties from the valuation list, thereby obviating any rate liability, following the introduction of the Rating of Empty Homes in October 2011.”

He explained: “A ratepayer in Northern Ireland may lodge an application at any time with the District Valuer in LPS against the rateable valuation of a property.

“The District Valuer will register a case, inspect the property and issue a decision amending or retaining the rateable value. If dissatisfied with the District Valuer’s decision a domestic ratepayer has a right of appeal to the Commissioner of Valuation with a further right of challenge to the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal.

“All domestic applications, whether seeking removal of the property from the valuation list or seeking a reduction in the assessed value for any reason, are registered under a single case type.”