Ratings – Recent And Future Developments

This briefing provides a summary of recent decisions in relation to how premises are to be assessed for ratings purposes and important changes in the pipeline with upcoming appeals and the passing of the Enterprise Act 2016.

Monk v. Newbigin (VO) (C3 2014 1549 2015 EWCA)

• The Supreme Court will hear the appeal in Monk v. Newbigin on 16 July 2016.
• Prior to Monk, no rates would be payable where premises had been demolished or stripped out until the refurbished or redeveloped premises were complete. However, the Court of Appeal held that premises would be assumed to be in repair, notwithstanding their actual condition, unless a reasonable landlord would consider the repairs to be uneconomic.