Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Jim Shannon
Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)Department Debates - View all Jim Shannon's debates with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill
Jim Shannon ExcerptsMonday 23rd April 2018
(6 years ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Dominic Raab
The progress that has been made in my hon. Friend’s constituency is hugely welcome. If we look at the behavioural change across the board as a result of previous measures, we can see that 90% of councils have taken up the powers to apply the premium and that all but three of those councils are charging it at the maximum level of 50%. This has resulted in a 9% fall in the number of properties subject to a premium in those areas using the premium every year since the power was introduced.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
In Northern Ireland, measures have been taken in relation to accommodation above shops that is not being used for commercial purposes. The Minister has referred to rates relief for shops, and there is also a way of doing that in relation to the space above the shops in order to provide accommodation. Has he given any consideration to that possibility?