Taken on rent of extra building - will we pay rates on it?

TMitC

We currently rent a small office space in a village. It comes with an old stable around the corner as storage space.
We qualify for full rate relief.
We have just taken on a larger barn opposite the stable. It's not much extra and, combined,  still falls well within the full relief threshold.
The barn is listed as storage in our lease, but landlord says we're welcome to make it useable as a work space. If we do that, will we then have to pay rates on it? It's all on one lease contract.

lincroft1710

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/small-business-rate-relief

should help 

TMitC

lincroft1710 said:

should help 

Thanks - I've checked this all out, but I'm not really any clearer.
If my lease is for two buildings in one place (plus a storage unit), does it count as one premises or two?

daveyjp

TMitC said:

lincroft1710 said:

should help 

Thanks - I've checked this all out, but I'm not really any clearer.
If my lease is for two buildings in one place (plus a storage unit), does it count as one premises or two?

If you want them rated as one you need to advise VOA and have the units revalued as one, rather than three.  You will need landlord's permission and they may not want this to happen as its work for them to have the hereditaments split again should you vacate.

lincroft1710

For rating purposes, separate buildings will usually mean separate rating assessments. Only if the buildings are contiguous (i.e. adjoin one another or the land on which they stand adjoins) as well as being in the same occupation can they be merged into a single rateable hereditament. Rating law overrides landlord's or tenant's wishes.