Business Rates avoidance discussion paper published

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a discussion paper asking for ideas on ways to curb empty property rates avoidance.

Aside from seeking to demonise ratepayers who use perfectly legal means to mitigate their liability by comparing them to “law abiding ratepayers” the paper seems to miss the obvious point. The changes to empty rates made in 2008 are not working as intended and should be reversed as soon as possible.