BPF calls for business rate relief for empty properties

The British Property Federation (BPF) has called upon the government to consider reviewing business rate relief for empty properties.

Reacting to news that rent paid on retail property registered a fall for the first time in seven years in July, Andrew Teacher, head of media at the BPF, said: "This figure is little surprise given the current economic climate."

He said in light of this, the government needs to "gradually reapply business rate relief for empty property which is causing further harm to both the property industry and the wider economy".

"Charging poor business rates on empty property will only serve to reduce the supply of property and cause further trauma to businesses when the government should be giving them a helping hand," he added.

According to the CB Richard Ellis UK monthly index, UK high street shop rents registered an average fall of 0.3% in July 2008. Office rents also saw a drop of 0.6% in the same month.