Local Government Finance Act 1988

Local rating E+W

41 Local rating lists. E+W

(1) In accordance with this Part the valuation officer for a [F1 billing authority] shall compile, and then maintain, lists for the authority (to be called its local non-domestic rating lists).

(2) A list must be compiled on 1 April 1990 and on 1 April in every fifth year afterwards.

(3) A list shall come into force on the day on which it is compiled and shall remain in force until the next one is compiled five years later.

(4) Before a list is compiled the valuation officer must take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that it is accurately compiled on 1 April concerned.

(5) Not later than 31 December preceding a day on which a list is to be compiled the valuation officer shall send to the authority a copy of the list he proposes (on the information then before him) to compile.

(6) As soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the copy the authority shall deposit it at its principal office and take such steps as it thinks most suitable for giving notice of it.

[F2 (6A) As soon as is reasonably practicable after compiling a list the valuation officer shall send a copy of it to the authority.

(6B) As soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the copy the authority shall deposit it at its principal office.]

(7) A list must be maintained for so long as is necessary for the purposes of this Part, so that the expiry of the five year period for which it is in force does not detract from the duty to maintain it.

(8) In compiling and maintaining the list which must be compiled on 1 April 1990, the valuation officer may take into account information obtained under section 82 or 86 of the 1967 Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 41(1) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para.59 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F2 S. 41(6A)(6B) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 19

Valid from 03/04/1995

[41A F3 Local non-domestic rating lists for Welsh billing authorities. E+W

(1) Every new valuation officer shall, on 1st April 1996, compile a list (“the amalgamated list”) for the new billing authority for which he is appointed, based on the information provided for him under this section.

(2) The amalgamated list shall contain the information which was included in the local non-domestic rating lists compiled on 1st April 1995 for the old billing authorities (“the current lists”) so far as that information is relevant.

(3) The amalgamated list shall also include the information which was included in any current list by way of an alteration, so far as that information is relevant.

(4) A new valuation officer’s amalgamated list shall be treated, for the purposes of this Act, as the local non-domestic rating list for his new billing authority and shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 1995.

(5) Where an amalgamated list contains information which is derived from any alteration made to any list or lists from which it is derived, the amalgamated list shall be treated as having been varied on the date on which the alteration was made.

(6) Subsections (2) to (6B) of section 41 above shall not apply in relation to an amalgamated list.

(7) Every valuation officer shall—

(a) on or before 15th October 1995, provide the appropriate new valuation officer with the information recorded in his local non-domestic rating list as at 30th September 1995, so far as it is relevant; and

(b) on 31st March 1996, provide the appropriate new valuation officer with the information recorded in his local non-domestic rating list as at that date, so far as it is relevant.

(8) A new valuation officer receiving any information under subsection (7)(a) above shall send a copy of it to his new billing authority as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(9) As soon as is reasonably practicable after compiling an amalgamated list, a new valuation officer shall send a copy of it to his new billing authority.

(10) A new billing authority receiving a copy of an amalgamated list under subsection (9) above shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, deposit it at its principal office.

(11) In this section—

• “old authority” has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994;

• “old billing authority” means a billing authority which is an old authority;

• “new billing authority” means a billing authority which is a new principal council;

• “new principal council” has the same meaning as in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994;

• “valuation officer” means a valuation officer for an old billing authority; and

• “new valuation officer” means a valuation officer for a new billing authority.

(12) For the purposes of this section—

(a) references to a valuation officer’s local non-domestic rating list are references to the local non-domestic rating list maintained by him under this Act;

(b) a new valuation officer’s area is the area of the new billing authority for which he is appointed;

(c) the appropriate new valuation officer, in relation to any information which relates to any hereditament is the new valuation officer for the new billing authority in whose area the hereditament is situated; and

(d) information is relevant in relation to a new valuation officer, or his area, if it relates to a hereditament which is in his area.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 41A inserted (3.5.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 37 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 6(1) (with art. 6(2)-(5))

42 Contents of local lists. E+W

(1) A local non-domestic rating list must show, for each day in each chargeable financial year for which it is in force, each hereditament which fulfils the following conditions on the day concerned—

(a) it is situated in the authority’s area,

(b) it is a relevant non-domestic hereditament,

(c) at least some of it is neither domestic property nor exempt from local non-domestic rating, and

(d) it is not a hereditament which must be shown for the day in a central non-domestic rating list.

(2) For each day on which a hereditament is shown in the local list, it must also show whether the hereditament—

(a) consists entirely of property which is not domestic, or

(b) is a composite hereditament.

(3) For each day on which a hereditament is shown in the list, it must also show whether any part of the hereditament is exempt from local non-domestic rating.

(4) For each day on which a hereditament is shown in the list, it must also show [F4 the rateable value of the hereditament]

(5) The list must also contain such information about hereditaments shown in it as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State by regulations; and the information so prescribed may include information about the total of the rateable values shown in the list.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words substituted for s. 42(4)(a)(b) by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 20

Valid from 19/11/1997

[42A F5 Rural settlement list. E+W

(1) Each billing authority shall compile and maintain, in accordance with section 42B below, a list (to be called its rural settlement list).

(2) A rural settlement list shall have effect for each chargeable financial year and shall identify for each such year any settlements mentioned in subsection (3) below.

(3) The settlements referred to in subsection (2) above are those which—

(a) are wholly or partly within the authority’s area,

(b) appear to the authority to have had a population of not more than 3,000 on the last 31st December before the beginning of the chargeable financial year in question, and

(c) in that financial year are wholly or partly within an area designated by the Secretary of State by order as a rural area for the purposes of this section.

(4) A rural settlement list must identify the boundaries of each settlement (whether by defining the boundaries or referring to boundaries defined in a map or other document), but if a settlement is not wholly within the area of a billing authority the list need not identify the boundaries outside the authority’s area.

(5) An order under subsection (3)(c) above may provide for designating as a rural area any area for the time being identified by any person, in any manner, specified in the order.

(6) Subsection (1) above does not apply to a billing authority in respect of any chargeable financial year for which there are no such settlements as are mentioned in subsection (3) above (and, accordingly, if the authority has compiled a rural settlement list, it shall cease to maintain that list).]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 42A inserted (19.11.1997) by 1997 c. 29, s. 1, Sch. 1 para. 1; S.I. 1997/2752, art. 2(1) (with art. 2(2))

Valid from 19/11/1997

[F6 42B Preparation and maintenance of lists. E+W

(1) The billing authority shall, throughout the period of three months preceding the beginning of the first chargeable financial year for which a rural settlement list is to have effect, make available for inspection a draft of the list in the form in which the authority proposes that it should have effect for that year.

(2) In each chargeable financial year for which a rural settlement list has effect the billing authority shall (if it appears to the authority that section 42A(1) above will apply to the authority in respect of the next chargeable financial year) review the list and consider whether or not, for the next chargeable financial year, any alterations are required to the list in order to give effect to section 42A(2) above.

(3) If following the review the authority considers that any such alterations are required for that year, it shall, throughout the three months preceding the beginning of that year, make available for inspection a draft of the list in the form in which the authority proposes that it should have effect for that year.

(4) A billing authority which has compiled a rural settlement list shall make it available for inspection in the form in which the list has effect for each chargeable financial year to which it relates.

(5) Where a billing authority is required to make any list or draft available for inspection under this section, it shall make the list or draft available at any reasonable hour (and free of charge) at its principal office.]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 42B inserted (19.11.1997) by 1997 c. 29, s. 1, Sch. 1 para. 1; S.I. 1997/2752, art. 2(1) (with art. 2(2)

43 Occupied hereditaments liability. E+W

(1) A person (the ratepayer) shall as regards a hereditament be subject to a non-domestic rate in respect of a chargeable financial year if the following conditions are fulfilled in respect of any day in the year—

(a) on the day the ratepayer is in occupation of all or part of the hereditament, and

(b) the hereditament is shown for the day in a local non-domestic rating list in force for the year.

(2) In such a case the ratepayer shall be liable to pay an amount calculated by—

(a) finding the chargeable amount for each chargeable day, and

(b) aggregating the amounts found under paragraph (a) above.

(3) A chargeable day is one which falls within the financial year and in respect of which the conditions mentioned in subsection (1) above are fulfilled.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, the chargeable amount for a chargeable day shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—

(5) Where subsection (6) applies the chargeable amount for a chargeable day shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—

(6) This subsection applies where on the day concerned the ratepayer is a charity or trustees for a charity and the hereditament is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes (whether of that charity or of that and other charities).

(7) The amount the ratepayer is liable to pay under this section shall be paid to the [F7 billing authority] in whose local non-domestic rating list the hereditament is shown.

(8) The liability to pay any such amount shall be discharged by making a payment or payments in accordance with regulations under Schedule 9 below.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in s. 43(7) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para.60 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 43 applied by S.I. 1990/145, reg. 3(2)(a)

C3 S. 43 modified by S.I. 1990/608, reg. 7

S. 43 modified (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/557, art. 3(a)

C4 S. 43(6) modified by S.I. 1990/145, reg. 3(7)

44 Occupied hereditaments: supplementary. E+W

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 43 above.

(2) A is the rateable value shown for the day under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament . . . F8

(3) . . . F9

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, B is the non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

(5) Where the [F10 billing authority] is a special authority, B is the authority’s non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

(6) C is the number of days in the financial year.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), ss. 139, 194(4), Sch. 5 para. 21(2), Sch. 12 Pt. II Note 4

F9 S. 44(3) repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), ss. 139, 194(4), Sch. 5 para. 21(3), Sch. 12 Pt. II Note 4

F10 Words in s. 44(5) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para.61 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 44 modified (for relevant period 1.4.1999 - 31.03.05) by S.I. 1999/3379, Pt. II ( regs. 3-14) Sch 2 paras. 4(1)(2), 5(1)(2), 6(1)(2) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 2)

[F11 44A Partly occupied hereditaments. E+W

(1) Where a hereditament is shown in a [F12 billing authority’s] local non-domestic rating list and it appears to the authority that part of the hereditament is unoccupied but will remain so for a short time only the authority may require the valuation officer for the authority to apportion the rateable value of the hereditament between the occupied and unoccupied parts of the hereditament and to certify the apportionment to the authority.

(2) The reference in subsection (1) above to the rateable value of the hereditament is a reference to the rateable value shown under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament for the day on which the authority makes its requirement.

(3) For the purposes of this section an apportionment under subsection (1) above shall be treated as applicable for any day which—

(a) falls within the operative period in relation to the apportionment, and

(b) is a day for which the rateable value shown under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament to which the apportionment relates is the same as that so shown for the day on which the authority requires the apportionment.

(4) References in this section to the operative period in relation to an apportionment are references to the period beginning—

(a) where requiring the apportionment does not have the effect of bringing to an end the operative period in relation to a previous apportionment under subsection (1) above, with the day on which the hereditament to which the apportionment relates became partly unoccupied, and

(b) where requiring the apportionment does have the effect of bringing to an end the operative period in relation to a previous apportionment under subsection (1) above, with the day immediately following the end of that period,

and ending with the first day on which one or more of the events listed below occurs.

(5) The events are—

(a) the occupation of any of the unoccupied part of the hereditament to which the apportionment relates;

(b) the ending of the rate period in which the authority requires the apportionment;

(c) the requiring of a further apportionment under subsection (1) above in relation to the hereditament to which the apportionment relates;

(d) the hereditament to which the apportionment relates becoming completely unoccupied.

(6) Subsection (7) below applies where—

(a) a [F13 billing authority] requires an apportionment under subsection (1) above, and

(b) the hereditament to which the apportionment relates does not fall within a class prescribed under section 45(1)(d) below.

(7) In relation to any day for which the apportionment is applicable, section 43 above shall have effect as regards the hereditament as if the following subsections were substituted for section 44(2)—

“(2) A is such part of the rateable value shown for the day under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament as is assigned by the relevant apportionment to the occupied part of the hereditament.

(2A) In subsection (2) above “the relevant apportionment” means the apportionment under section 44A(1) below which relates to the hereditament and is treated for the purposes of section 44A below as applicable for the day.”

(8) Subsection (9) below applies where—

(a) a [F13 billing authority] requires an apportionment under subsection (1) above, and

(b) the hereditament to which the apportionment relates falls within a class prescribed under section 45(1)(d) below.

(9) In relation to any day for which the apportionment is applicable, section 43 above shall have effect as regards the hereditament as if the following subsections were substituted for section 44(2)—

“(2) A is the sum of—

(a) such part of the rateable value shown for the day under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament as is assigned by the relevant apportionment to the occupied part of the hereditament, and

(b) one half of such part of that rateable value as is assigned by the relevant apportionment to the unoccupied part of the hereditament.

(2A) In subsection (2) above “the relevant apportionment” means the apportionment under section 44A(1) below which relates to the hereditament and is treated for the purposes of section 44A below as applicable for the day.”

(10) References in subsections (1) to (5) above to the hereditament, in relation to a hereditament which is partly domestic property or partly exempt from local non-domestic rating, shall, except where the reference is to the rateable value of the hereditament, be construed as references to such part of the hereditament as is neither domestic property nor exempt from local non-domestic rating.]

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 44A inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 22

F12 Words in s. 44A(1) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 62(1) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F13 Words in s. 44A(6)(a)(8)(a) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 62(2) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 S. 44A modified (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/557, art. 3(a)

S. 44A modified (E.) (for the relevant period 1.4.2000 - 31.3.2005) by S.I. 1999/3379, Pt. II (regs. 3-14) Sch. 2 paras. 4(1)(2), 5(1)(2), 6(1)(2) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 2)

45 Unoccupied hereditaments: liability. E+W

(1) A person (the ratepayer) shall as regards a hereditament be subject to a non-domestic rate in respect of a chargeable financial year if the following conditions are fulfilled in respect of any day in the year—

(a) on the day none of the hereditament is occupied,

(b) on the day the ratepayer is the owner of the whole of the hereditament,

(c) the hereditament is shown for the day in a local non-domestic rating list in force for the year, and

(d) on the day the hereditament falls within a [F14 class] prescribed by the Secretary of State by regulations.

(2) In such a case the ratepayer shall be liable to pay an amount calculated by—

(a) finding the chargeable amount for each chargeable day, and

(b) aggregating the amounts found under paragraph (a) above.

(3) A chargeable day is one which falls within the financial year and in respect of which the conditions mentioned in subsection (1) above are fulfilled.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, the chargeable amount for a chargeable day shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—

(5) Where subsection (6) below applies the chargeable amount for a chargeable day shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—

(6) This subsection applies where on the day concerned the ratepayer is a charity or trustees for a charity and it appears that when next in use the hereditament will be wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes (whether of that charity or of that and other charities).

(7) The amount the ratepayer is liable to pay under this section shall be paid to the [F15 billing authority] in whose local non-domestic rating list the hereditament is shown.

(8) The liability to pay any such amount shall be discharged by making a payment or payments in accordance with regulations under Schedule 9 below.

[F16 (9) For the purposes of subsection (1)(d) above a class may be prescribed by reference to such factors as the Secretary of State sees fit.

(10) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (9) above, a class may be prescribed by reference to one or more of the following factors—

(a) the physical characteristics of hereditaments;

(b) the fact that hereditaments have been unoccupied at any time preceding the day mentioned in subsection (1) above;

(c) the fact that the owners of hereditaments fall within prescribed descriptions.]

Textual Amendments

F14 Word substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 23(2)

F15 Words in s. 45(7) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para.63 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F16 S. 45(9)(10) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 23(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 S. 45 applied by S.I. 1990/145, reg. 3(2)(a)

C8 S. 45 modified by S.I. 1990/608, regs. 3, 7(1)–(4)

S. 45 modified (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/557, art. 3(a)

S. 45 modified (W.) (31.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3454, reg. 8(1)

C9 S. 45(4)-(6) modified (E.)(for the relevant period 1.4.2000 - 31.3.2005) by S.I 1999/3379 Pt. II (regs. 3-4) Sch. 2 paras. 4(1)(2), 5(1)(2), 6(1)(2) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 2)

C10 S. 45(6) modified by S.I. 1990/145, reg. 3(7)

46 Unoccupied hereditaments: supplementary. E+W

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 45 above.

(2) A is the rateable value shown for the day under section 42(4) above as regards the hereditament . . . F17

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, B is the non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

(4) Where the [F18 billing authority] is a special authority, B is the authority’s non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

(5) C is the number of days in the financial year.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words repealed by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1, 2), ss. 139, 194(4), Sch. 5 para. 24, Sch. 12 Pt II Note 4

F18 Words in s. 46(4) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para.64 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

[F19 46A Unoccupied hereditaments: new buildings. E+W

(1) Schedule 4A below (which makes provision with respect to the determination of a day as the completion day in relation to a new building) shall have effect.

(2) Where—

(a) a completion notice is served under Schedule 4A below, and

(b) the building to which the notice relates is not completed on or before the relevant day,

then for the purposes of section 42 above and Schedule 6 below the building shall be deemed to be completed on that day.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above the relevant day in relation to a completion notice is—

(a) where an appeal against the notice is brought under paragraph 4 of Schedule 4A below, the day stated in the notice, and

(b) where no appeal against the notice is brought under that paragraph, the day determined under that Schedule as the completion day in relation to the building to which the notice relates.

(4) Where—

(a) a day is determined under Schedule 4A below as the completion day in relation to a new building, and

(b) the building is not occupied on that day,

it shall be deemed for the purposes of section 45 above to become unoccupied on that day.

(5) Where—

(a) a day is determined under Schedule 4A below as the completion day in relation to a new building, and

(b) the building is one produced by the structural alteration of an existing building,

the hereditament which comprised the existing building shall be deemed for the purposes of section 45 above to have ceased to exist, and to have been omitted from the list, on that day.

(6) In this section—

(a) “building” includes part of a building, and

(b) references to a new building include references to a building produced by the structural alteration of an existing building where the existing building is comprised in a hereditament which, by virtue of the alteration, becomes, or becomes part of, a different hereditament or different hereditaments.]

Textual Amendments

F19 S. 46A inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 25

47 Discretionary relief. E+W

(1) Where the first and second conditions mentioned in subsections (2) and (3) below are fulfilled for a day which is a chargeable day within the meaning of section 43 or 45 above (as the case may be)—

(a) the chargeable amount for the day shall be such as is determined by, or found in accordance with rules determined by, the [F20 billing authority] concerned, and

(b) sections 43(4) to (6) and 44 above, sections 45(4) to (6) and 46 above, [F21 regulations under section 58 below or any provision of or made under Schedule 7A below] (as the case may be) shall not apply as regards the day.

(2) The first condition is that one or more of the following applies on the chargeable day—

(a) the ratepayer is a charity or trustees for a charity, and the hereditament is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes (whether of that charity or of that and other charities);

(b) the hereditament is not an excepted hereditament, and all or part of it is occupied for the purposes of one or more institutions or other organisations none of which is established or conducted for profit and each of whose main objects are charitable or are otherwise philanthropic or religious or concerned with education, social welfare, science, literature or the fine arts;

(c) the hereditament is not an excepted hereditament, it is wholly or mainly used for purposes of recreation, and all or part of it is occupied for the purposes of a club, society or other organisation not established or conducted for profit.

(3) The second condition is that, during a period which consists of or includes the chargeable day, a decision of the [F20 billing authority] concerned operates to the effect that this section applies as regards the hereditament concerned.

(4) A determination under subsection (1)(a) above—

(a) must be such that the chargeable amount for the day is less than the amount it would be apart from this section;

(b) may be such that the chargeable amount for the day is 0;

(c) may be varied by a further determination of the authority under subsection (1)(a) above.

(5) In deciding what the chargeable amount for the day would be apart from this section the effect of any regulations under section [F22 58 below and of any provision of or made under Schedule 7A below] shall be taken into account but anything which has been done or could be done under section 49 below shall be ignored.

(6) A decision under subsection (3) above may be revoked by a further decision of the authority.

(7) A decision under subsection (3) above is invalid as regards a day if made after the end of the financial year in which the day falls.

(8) The Secretary of State may make regulations containing provision—

(a) requiring notice to be given of any determination or decision;

(b) limiting the power to revoke a decision or vary a determination;

(c) as to other matters incidental to this section.

(9) A hereditament is an excepted hereditament if all or part of it is occupied (otherwise than as trustee) by

[F23 (a) a billing authority; or

(b) a precepting authority, other than the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District or charter trustees.]

Textual Amendments

F20 Words in s. 47(1)(a)(3) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 65(1) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F21 Words substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 26(2)

F22 Words substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 26(3)

F23 Words in s. 47(9) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 65(2) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 S. 47 applied (4.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/263, reg. 16(5)

S. 47 amended (28.11.1994) by S.I. 1994/2825, reg. 29

C12 S. 47(2)(a) modified by S.I. 1990/145, reg. 3(7)

48 Discretionary relief: supplementary. E+W

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 47 above.

(2) A hereditament not in use shall be treated as wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes if it appears that when next in use it will be wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes.

(3) A hereditament not in use shall be treated as wholly or mainly used for purposes of recreation if it appears that when next in use it will be wholly or mainly used for purposes of recreation.

(4) A hereditament which is wholly unoccupied shall be treated as an excepted hereditament if it appears that when any of it is next occupied the hereditament will be an excepted hereditament.

(5) If a hereditament is wholly unoccupied but it appears that it or any part of it when next occupied will be occupied for particular purposes, the hereditament or part concerned (as the case may be) shall be treated as occupied for those purposes.

49 Reduction or remission of liability. E+W

(1) A [F24 billing authority] may—

(a) reduce any amount a person is liable to pay to it under section 43 or 45 above, or

(b) remit payment of the whole of any amount a person would otherwise be liable to pay to it under section 43 or 45 above.

(2) But an authority may not act under this section unless it is satisfied that—

(a) the ratepayer would sustain hardship if the authority did not do so, and

(b) it is reasonable for the authority to do so, having regard to the interests of persons [F25 liable to pay council tax set by it].

(3) The amount as regards which a reduction or remittance may be made under subsection (1) above is the amount the person would be liable to pay (apart from this section) taking account of anything done under section 47 above [F26 , the effect of any regulations under section 58 below, and the effect of any provision of or made under Schedule 7A below.]

(4) Where an authority acts under this section, section 43 or 45 above shall be construed accordingly as regards the case concerned.

Textual Amendments

F24 Words in s. 49(1) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 66(1) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F25 Words in s. 49(2)(b) substituted (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 66(2) (with s. 118(1)(2)(4))

F26 Words substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 27

50 Joint owners or occupiers. E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may make such regulations as he sees fit to deal with any case where (apart from the regulations) there would be more than one owner or occupier of a hereditament or part or of land at a particular time.

(2) Nothing in the following provisions of this section shall prejudice the generality of subsection (1) above.

(3) The regulations may provide for the owner or occupier at the time concerned to be taken to be such one of the owners or occupiers as is identified in accordance with prescribed rules.

(4) The regulations may provide that—

(a) as regards any time when there is only one owner or occupier, section 43 or 45 above (as the case may be) shall apply;

(b) as regards any time when there is more than one owner or occupier, the owners or occupiers shall be jointly and severally liable to pay a prescribed amount by way of non-domestic rate.

(5) The regulations may include provision that prescribed provisions shall apply instead of prescribed provisions of this Part, or that prescribed provisions of this Part shall not apply or shall apply subject to prescribed amendments or adaptations.

51 Exemption. E+W

Schedule 5 below shall have effect to determine the extent (if any) to which a hereditament is for the purposes of this Part exempt from local non-domestic rating.