Empty property rates amount to £690m

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 28-01-2009

Figures revealed by the Business Centre Association have shown that UK councils are paying £690 million on empty properties which they own.

Taxpayers are footing the bill after the government scrapped its empty rate relief last year, with more than 320 local organisations being affected as a result.

It noted that Birmingham city council is currently paying the government £800,000 towards empty rates.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented: "It is utter hypocrisy for ministers to be talking about helping business while making them pay empty rates, especially while hundreds of businesses are closing every week."

Meanwhile, figures compiled by CB Richard Ellis recently showed that demand for office interiors fell in London during 2008.

Total office interior uptake amounted to 11.7 million sq ft for the 12 months, while fourth-quarter investment in the city fell from £17.5 billion in 2007 to £7.4 billion in 2008.