Tipperary County Council is seeking submissions from the public about a possible Rates Abatement scheme in respect of vacant commercial properties. The councillors are likely to make a decision on such a scheme at the November Budget Meeting due on November 29th and the new rules would be applied in the 2025 financial year.
At present vacant commercial properties can avail of a scheme that completely exempts them from rates or enables them to get a reduction of 60% or 80% of the rates payable depending on the rateable valuation. Properties with a rates bill is up to €5,000 per annum will pay no rates if the premise is vacant, if the rates bill is over €5,000 but less than €10,000 there is 80% relief and for a property with a rates bill of €10,000 there is 60% relief from rates due if the property is vacant.
In it’s policy document on Town and City Renewal, Retail Excellence Ireland, has recommended that a property should not be eligible for any rates relief if the property is not in what it calls a “street-worthy condition”. Local Sinn Fein Councillor Anne Marie Ryan says the new scheme should include the requirement for the property to be in a “fit to be let” condition to avail of any relief saying “too many premises have a “To Let” sign but are not in a fit condition for use. The Councillor says consideration should be given to the possibility that a form of “Building Condition Report” should accompany an application for rates relief that would look at the interior and exterior of the property.
The public can make a submission on the issue of a Rates Abatement Scheme for the county – on aspects such as the impact such a scheme might have on the level of vacancy in towns and villages, the impact on property owners and on the capacity of the Council to provide services. If the property is availing of some form of rates relief because it is vacant then the Council is at the loss of such revenue.
Submissions must be received by 30th October 2024 can be sent to:Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, or via email to [email protected].
