Could council's rate scheme help end the blight of Caithness' rotting eyesores?
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Wick's provost called the new council scheme to bring empty properties back into economic use as a "step in the right direction".
Wick and East Caithness councillor Jan McEwan, who is also Wick's provost, commented after yesterday's (December 7) council meeting which agreed on a new 'non-domestic rates empty property relief scheme' that will be introduced from April 1 next year.
The scheme has been devised in order to encourage ratepayers to bring non-domestic properties, which are otherwise empty or unoccupied, back into economic use, either through self-occupation or by letting the property for use on the open market.
A number of specific classes of non-domestic properties will not be affected by the scheme, including those where occupation is prohibited by law.
The former Mayfair video store at the corner of Smith Terrace in Wick is a case in point and has lain empty for many years with no sign of any refurbishments despite planning applications being lodged with Highland Council. The scourge of derelict buildings disfiguring it has long been discussed at community council meetings in Wick. A 2015 report stated it had the highest ratio of derelict buildings of any town in the Highlands, with Historic Scotland indicating that the royal burgh then had 21 properties on the 'buildings at risk' register.
Cllr McEwan said: "I think this is a step in the right direction for vacant property owners to take more responsibility for their properties and that they can’t just neglect them and leave them to become eyesores – they will now have to pay the council non domestic rates and vacant property rates.
"It will also maybe spur them on to setting realistic rental or selling prices. This is being phased in over three years so they are receiving plenty of notice. This can only help to improve our towns and villages."
The empty property relief scheme will be phased in over three years, commencing from April 1, 2024 and will reduce the relief available for unoccupied/empty non-domestic rates properties.
The phasing approach will enable owners of non-domestic properties to bring these properties back into use in a planned way and enables those acquiring empty properties from April 1, 2024 to incorporate the costs of their non-domestic rates liabilities into their business plans and decisions.
Councillor Calum Munro, vice chair of the corporate resources committee, commented: “Yesterday's decision is an important step in managing the ever-increasing number of empty commercial properties throughout the region – this scheme is for the benefit of local economies and also to assist in generating employment opportunities for areas in Highland.
He continued: “The scheme has been designed in such a way that it will be introduced on a phased basis over a three-year-period from April 2024. We hope that this approach will enable unoccupied commercial property owners the opportunity to put in place plans to bring properties back into economic use in the medium-term.”
The Empty Property Relief Scheme will be introduced in line with the table below:
