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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Property and housing
    3. A guide to rates
    4. Your rate bill
    Colour banner for pages about paying rates on your home
    Banner on a guide to rates pages

    Rating of empty homes

    Property rates apply to all domestic properties with a rateable capital value of £20,000 or more, including empty properties. The amount due is the same as if the property is lived in. Automatic exclusions and successful applications receive 100 per cent relief.

    Identifying an empty property

    For rates assessment, an empty property is:

    • empty as no-one is living there
    • unfurnished
    • not used for storage

     The owner is responsible for paying rates on an empty property. Four per cent early payment discount is applied to empty property rates.

    Change of circumstances

    It is important that you tell Land & Property Services (LPS) about any change in circumstances at the empty property, for example the property is sold or becomes occupied. To tell LPS about changes, go to:

    • Create or update a rate account 

    Review the property valuation

    Your property’s rateable value could be affected by certain structural repairs or rebuilding work. If the property was demolished or you’re doing major structural work, you need to ask LPS to review the property valuation.  To avoid debt recovery action, you should continue to pay your rates while LPS processes any application for review.

    To read more information about getting a property valuation for rates, go to:

    • Valuation of domestic properties for rates

    Rental properties

    Rates apply on empty rental properties.

    • Rating on rental properties

    Rating exclusions on empty homes

    Rate exclusions are available  on certain empty homes. For most exclusions, the owner needs to apply and give LPS supporting evidence. When an empty home is excluded from rates, the owner gets 100 per cent rate relief.

    The rating exclusion categories are:

    • the empty home cannot be legally occupied by you or anyone else
    • the empty home cannot be occupied by you or anyone else due to the actions of a public body
    • the empty home is a listed building
    • the empty home is an historic monument
    • the empty home is in the possession of the personal representative of a deceased person
    • there is a bankruptcy order against the owner
    • the owner is a trustee under a deed of arrangement
    • the owner is a company in administration
    • the owner of a property is a liquidator
    • the owner is the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission
    • the owner is in care (nursing home, residential care or hospital)
    • the owner is in detention
    • the owner made a successful application to the Housing Executive under the Special Purchase of an Evacuated Dwelling (SPED) scheme
    • the home is empty due to flooding​

    Rating exclusions on flooded homes

    There is a Rating of Empty Homes exclusion for homes affected by flooding. You can apply for an exclusion from rates if:

    • you qualified for compensation from the local council because your home flooded after heavy rain or a tidal surge
    • no-one has continuously lived in your property for at least four weeks
    • your property was your main home before the flooding

    You could get this exclusion from rates for up to six months. Your property could be eligible even if the flooding hasn't reduced the property's rateable value.

    Applying for rating exclusion

    If the property is empty for rating purposes, the owner can apply for an exclusion.

    To apply, you must use an 'Exclusion from Rating of Empty Homes' form and provide evidence about your property or you.  LPS might need to inspect your property. 

    You can edit the form. This allows you to type onscreen and print, or download the form and complete it.

    • Application for Exclusion from Rating of Empty Homes

    You can also ask LPS for a form. 

    • telephone: 0300 200 7801 
    • text relay: 18001 0300 200 7801
    • email: applicationbased.raterelief@finance-ni.gov.uk
    • contact the Rating Exclusion Team online
    • by writing to LPS

    Land & Property Services
    Rating of Empty Homes Exclusions
    Lanyon Plaza
    7 Lanyon Place
    Town Parks
    Belfast
    BT1 3LP

    Waiting for a decision about your application

    To avoid debt recovery action, you should continue paying rates while LPS processes your application for rating exclusion.

    Automatic exclusions

    Properties that are automatically excluded from rating of empty homes don't receive a rates bill. Land & Property Services (LPS) will issue a zero balance statement.

    These exclusions are:

    • the property's capital value is under £20,000
    • the owner is the first developer or builder of a newly built home that has never been occupied since it was first entered on the capital value list

    Twelve-month developer exclusion

    This exclusion is only available to a developer of a new home who is also the first owner of the new building.

    A developer exclusion from rating on a property lasts for twelve months from the date their property was first shown on the valuation list if on or after 1 April 2012. 

    A developer can be:

    • someone who builds their own home
    • a builder or contractor

    Buying a new house

     If you  buy  a new property from a developer, you are not entitled to the developer exclusion. You must tell Land & Property Services if you receive the exclusion.  This avoids LPS sending you a backdated rates bill.

    Buying an unfinished house

    If you buy an unfinished property, you aren't  entitled to the developer exclusion. You don’t qualify as  the first owner and developer.

    Refurbishing an existing house

    If you refurbish an existing property, you aren't entitled to the developer exclusion. You don’t qualify as the first owner and developer.

    How long a rating exclusion lasts

    If your application for an exclusion  is successful, Land & Property Services (LPS) will review your entitlement every six or twelve months.

    The exclusion due to flooding caused by heavy rain or tidal surge lasts for up to six months. This exclusion ends if you occupy or sell the property.

    A developer exclusion is for twelve months. You will be responsible for paying rates on the property after twelve months.

    If you sell or rent the property within the twelve months, you no longer qualify for developer exclusion and must tell LPS.

    • Land & Property Services

    More useful links

    • Valuation of domestic properties for rates
    • How rates bills are calculated
    • Occupying and leaving a property
    • Help paying your rates
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    Your rate bill

    • Calculate your estimated rate bill
    • Complaining to Land & Property Services
    • Getting a rates refund
    • How rate bills are calculated
    • Introducing your rate bill
    • Make changes online to a landlord rate account
    • Make changes to your rate account
    • Occupying and leaving a property
    • Properties you pay rates on
    • Rating of empty homes
    • Request a copy of your rate bill
    • Sign up for rates
    • What happens if you can't pay your rates
    • What happens if you don't pay your rates
    • What rates pay for
    • When a ratepayer has died
    • When you think your rate bill is too high

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