Andrew Vaux 11 January 2024

Call to end £250m business rate loophole

Call to end £250m business rate loophole image
Image: Sonicpuss / Shutterstock.com.

A campaign to end a loophole which is estimated to cost councils a massive £250m in lost business rates revenue has been backed by senior politicians.

‘Box shifting’ involves landlords exploiting a legal loophole in business rates relief by placing boxes in an empty commercial property to claim the space is occupied for six weeks.The boxes are then removed to claim three months of empty rates relief, with the cycle repeated. The practice adds little or no social value and causes councils to lose more than two-thirds of their rates income every time it happens.

To continue reading visit The MJ (£).

If this article was of interest, check out our feature 'Tired of empty shops? It’s time to ban box shifting' by Sian Berry AM, Green London Assembly Member and Camden councillor.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner