This table relates to properties included in the Housing Stock and recorded as vacant on the Land & Property Services (LPS) rating system. The information provided is at a point in time and the table is updated annually, in April of each year.
In line with the Rates Order (NI) 1977, Housing Stock is defined as a count of properties which are valued as domestic or mixed for the purposes of rating and are in use (or when next in use, will be used) for the purposes of a private dwelling. This includes properties which are temporarily incapable of beneficial occupation, but excludes Caravans, Domestic Garages, Domestic Stores and Car Parking Spaces.
Since the introduction of the Rating of Empty Homes legislation on 1st October 2011, the rate liability for vacant domestic properties has been assessed at 100%. There is currently no requirement for ratepayers to inform LPS that their property is vacant, nor is there any financial advantage in doing so. As such, information in the rating system on domestic properties recorded as vacant may not be current or complete.
