We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Who should register my new office building with the council?
MsB_77
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hi all,
This is my first time posting, so please be gentle with me
12 months ago I moved my small business into a mill that is being converted into a community business hub by a local charity. The mill has 5 floors, the charity has a 99 year lease on the top 4 floors, the ground floor is run by the building owners who still operate their 100 year old business. The charity has completed work on floors 2&3 and has made lots of units/offices for all kinds of businesses, which is great....but they didn't have planning permission! (That's another story)
In January, we held a tenants meeting and a lady from another business raised the issue of business rates. She said the landlord needs to tell the council that they have built all the units, give them the sizes of each unit and basically let the council know that each "property" exists. Then each tenant can claim their property on the council website and register for rates/rate relief. The landlord says it's nothing to do with him, it's up to the tenants to sort it, but the charity is correctly registered for the 4 floors it runs. I have looked on the VOA site and there is only 1 property registered...the whole mill as 1. Voa says I can register my property but it will be difficult and take from 12 weeks to a year, but seeing as their is 34 small businesses in the mill should the landlord not have to register each one?
As it stands, there is 34 businesses who have now missed out on grants that could have secured their businesses through the current covid situation. I really need to push my landlord to register the properties, is it law that he should have done this? I can't find anything written to show him, to persuade him to act.
This is my first time posting, so please be gentle with me
12 months ago I moved my small business into a mill that is being converted into a community business hub by a local charity. The mill has 5 floors, the charity has a 99 year lease on the top 4 floors, the ground floor is run by the building owners who still operate their 100 year old business. The charity has completed work on floors 2&3 and has made lots of units/offices for all kinds of businesses, which is great....but they didn't have planning permission! (That's another story)
In January, we held a tenants meeting and a lady from another business raised the issue of business rates. She said the landlord needs to tell the council that they have built all the units, give them the sizes of each unit and basically let the council know that each "property" exists. Then each tenant can claim their property on the council website and register for rates/rate relief. The landlord says it's nothing to do with him, it's up to the tenants to sort it, but the charity is correctly registered for the 4 floors it runs. I have looked on the VOA site and there is only 1 property registered...the whole mill as 1. Voa says I can register my property but it will be difficult and take from 12 weeks to a year, but seeing as their is 34 small businesses in the mill should the landlord not have to register each one?
As it stands, there is 34 businesses who have now missed out on grants that could have secured their businesses through the current covid situation. I really need to push my landlord to register the properties, is it law that he should have done this? I can't find anything written to show him, to persuade him to act.
0
Comments
-
I presume they are actively looking to gain retrospective planning permission? I suspect that process will trigger the rates / VOA registration. it certainly did when we gained PP for change of use from residential to office use.
No help for the current situation, I'm afraid.Signature removed for peace of mind0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 355.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.8K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 456.1K Spending & Discounts
- 248.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 605.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 179K Life & Family
- 263.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards