Christmas and New Year closure information
Our council offices and phone lines will close at 4pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
See our service arrangements for customers during this time.
Reliefs and exemptions - Partly occupied property relief
You’re responsible for paying the full business rates on your property, whether it’s fully or partly in use.
However, if part of the property is temporarily empty, the council may be able to offer a discount on the unused portion - this is decided on a case-by-case basis.
To qualify, the situation must be temporary, for example, less than 6 months in any 12 month period. If the partial occupation is going to last longer, the VOA may be able to value the unoccupied area separately. Contact the VOA to find out more.
