Plan will save listed buildings from ruin Council tax relief cut forces owners to maintain property
A new policy agreed by Renfrewshire Council this week will prevent listed buildings falling into ruins, says a councillor.
The change will pressure owners of listed buildings to do something with their property rather than letting them sit empty, said Councillor Kenny MacLaren.
On Thursday, February 9, the Finance and Customer Services Policy Board agreed to the change, which will see the amount of time listed buildings are eligible for tax relief reduced.
Empty Property Relief, which provides certain rates relief on unoccupied non-domestic properties, was mandatory and fully funded by the Scottish Government through the Local Government Settlements.
But that changed in 2019/20 budget discussions, when the Scottish Government committed to devolve the decision to local authorities.
Under the old policy, unoccupied listed buildings were eligible for 100 per cent relief indefinitely.
With effect from Saturday, April 1, unoccupied listed buildings in Renfrewshire will be eligible for 50 per cent relief for the first three months since becoming unoccupied and 10 per cent thereafter, the same as properties in the category “other (non-industrial) unoccupied”; or 100 per cent relief for 6 months and 10 per cent thereafter if the property is classed as unoccupied industrial.
“This change will put pressure on owners of listed buildings to actually do something with them, rather than just letting them stand empty for years,” said Paisley Northwest Councillor Kenny MacLaren. The policy will result in a charge for unoccupied properties which are classed as listed buildings.
It is estimated that it will affect charges on 145 properties.
Renfrewshire Council will allow businesses time to prepare for this change.
A transitional period will commence from April 1 for listed buildings, which will continue to be eligible for 100 per cent relief on that date for a period of six months after which time they will be eligible for 10 per cent relief.
SNP Councillor, Kenny MacLaren added: “Part of the Barclay review on non-domestic rates (which reported back in 2017) was to encourage owners of listed buildings to bring them into economic use.
“Now that such powers have been devolved to councils, it gives Renfrewshire the opportunity to act and limit the 100 per cent relief that such buildings used to receive.
“Too many times in the planning board we’ve seen listed buildings fall into ruins as owners fail to maintain them and often then use the excuse that the only option is demolition.
“This now puts the onus on such owners to act.
“Making listed buildings eligible for non-domestic rates will force owners and developers to act and bring these properties back into economic use, benefiting not just the properties themselves but also boosting our local economy.”
Too many buildings fall into ruin then owners use the excuse that the only option is demolition