Empty property tax outcry

The response to the campaign against empty property tax has been "phenomenal", with licensees among those showing their opposition.

That's according to the British Property Federation (BPF), which is calling on licensees to provide evidence of effects of the tax.

The BPF said the tax is crippling large and small businesses, including pubs.

Currently, business owners have to pay full tax rates even if the building is unoccupied. Previously, they were entitled to up to a 50% reduction on empty properties.

BPF head of media, Andrew Teacher, said: "Since launching the campaign we have been in meltdown. Our phone system crashed — it couldn't handle the calls."

Teacher said the response had been wide-ranging, from large corporations to individual licensees.

"There is a complete mix calling the BPF. It's astonishing," he said.

Since rate-relief scrapping, many businesses are demolishing empty buildings rather than pay the tax.

To date, 35 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) to reintroduce rate relief for empty properties.

The EDM calls for "the Government to reintroduce empty property rate relief in response to the economic downturn and worsening conditions in the property market. It notes that rate relief stimulates investment and that the withdrawal of the relief has unintended consequences."

To provide evidence of effects of the tax, contact BPF at vasb@rzcglengrf.pbz​ or call 020 7828 0111.