2024 Important Information about New Year Rates Bills

Moray Council

Empty Property Relief - local Policy

At a meeting of Moray Council's Corporate Committee, Elected Members adopted a local policy on the administration of Empty Property Relief on vacant non-domestic properties.  The new policy commences on 1 April 2024. The main features of this policy are:

1. vacant properties are entitled to 5% Empty Property relief;
2. vacant listed buildings are no longer entitled to exemption.  These now receive 5% Empty Property Relief;
3. vacant industrial subjects are no longer entitled to exemption.  These now receive 5% Empty Property Relief;
4. vacant properties with a rateable value of up to £2,000 are entitled to exemption from the payment of rates.

Full details of the 2024 Empty Property Relief scheme may be found by clicking this link.

Scottish Government

Rates Poundages

• the Non-Domestic Rates Basic Property poundage will be frozen at 49.8p

• the Intermediate Property poundage will increase by inflation to 54.5p

• the Higher Property poundage will increase by inflation to 55.9p

Transitional Relief

• The Small Business Transitional Relief scheme announced in last year’s budget will in 2024-25 cap the increase from 31 March 2023 in eligible properties’ rates bills at £1,200 (in 2023-24 the increase was capped at £600)

• In 2024-25, the Revaluation Transitional Relief scheme will cap the annual increase in the NDR liabilities due to the 2023 Revaluation (in cash terms) at 25% for properties with a rateable value up to £20,000, 50% for those with a rateable value between £20,001 and £100,000, and 75% for those with a rateable value over £100,000

• Parks Transitional Relief scheme will provide 33% relief in 2024-25 for parks or parts of parks that became rateable on 1 April 2023 (in 2023-24 there was 66% relief)

Exemptions and Reductions 

• District Heating relief for renewables, which had been due to expire on 31 March 2024, will be extended and expanded. 90% relief will be available until 31 March 2027 for district heating networks where at least 80% of the thermal energy generated derives from renewables

• Telecommunications mobile mast relief will be extended from 31 March 2029 to 31 March 2031

• Enterprise Areas relief, which had been due to expire on 31 March 2024, will be phased out over 2024-25 and 2025-26

• All other existing reliefs, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme relief, will be maintained.

Note: Once the government publishes the legislation which supports 2024 Non-Domestic Rates billing, our website will be updated with fuller details of these changes.