Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

PART I N.I. GENERAL RULE

1.  Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, for the purposes of this Order the net annual value of a hereditament shall be the rent for which, one year with another, the hereditament might, in its actual state, be reasonably expected to let from year to year, the probable average annual cost of repairs, insurance and other expenses (if any) necessary to maintain the hereditament in its actual state, and all rates, taxes or public charges (if any), being paid by the tenant. N.I.

2.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), in estimating the net annual value of a hereditament for the purposes of any revision of the valuation list, regard shall be had to the net annual values in the valuation list of comparable hereditaments which are in the same state and circumstances as the hereditament whose net annual value is being revised.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to any hereditament for whose valuation special provision is made by or under Part IV or any of the succeeding Parts of this Schedule, or to any hereditament whose net annual value falls to be ascertained by reference to the profits of the undertaking or business carried on therein.

3.—(1) In estimating the net annual value of a hereditament, regard may be had to—

(a) the capital value of that hereditament; and

(b) the capital values of other hereditaments of the same general character for which rents are known or have been estimated for the purposes of paragraph 1.

(2) In this paragraph “capital value” in relation to a hereditament means the price which a willing seller would reasonably expect to realise for the fee simple absolute in possession in the hereditament, in its actual state and with vacant possession, at the time by reference to which the estimate of net annual value falls to be made, on the assumption that there was then an adequate supply of similar properties available to meet a reasonable demand.

[F1 3A.— (1) In estimating the net annual value of a relevant hereditament during a deemed completion period, the actual state of the hereditament shall be taken to be a state of reasonable repair excluding any repairs which a reasonable landlord would consider uneconomic.

(2) In this paragraph—

• “building” has the same meaning as in Article 25B;

• “deemed completion period” means the period—

  (a)

  beginning with the day on which the building is deemed to be completed by virtue of paragraph (2) of that Article; and

  (b)

  ending on the day on which the building becomes capable of rateable occupation;

• “relevant hereditament” means a hereditament which comprises a building which is deemed to be completed by virtue of that paragraph.]

F1 2004 NI 4

4.  Where the net annual value of a hereditament is fixed, wholly or partly, having regard to the volume of trade carried on at the hereditament or the quantity of minerals or other substances extracted from it, the volume or quantity to be taken into account for the purposes of a valuation shall be the probable volume or quantity for the first year with respect to which that valuation will be in force. N.I.

[F2 5.   Regulations may provide that in applying paragraphs 1 to 4 in relation to a hereditament of a prescribed description, prescribed assumptions (as to the hereditament or otherwise) are to be made.] N.I.

F2 1996 NI 25

6.  Regulations may— N.I.

(a) provide that in arriving at a net annual value under paragraph 1 prescribed principles are to be applied; and

(b) make provision for the preservation of such principles, privileges and provisions for the making of valuations on exceptional principles as apply for the purposes of this Order.

[F3 Capital value – general rule N.I.

F3 Sch. 12 paras. 7-16 and preceding cross-headings for paras. 7, 8-15, 16 inserted (1.12.2006) by Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2954 (N.I. 18)), arts. 1(3), 8(2); S.R. 2006/464, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with transitional provisions in S.R. 2006/468, art. 3(1), Sch.)

7.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, for the purposes of this Order the capital value of a hereditament shall be the amount which, on the assumptions mentioned in paragraphs 9 to 15, the hereditament might reasonably have been expected to realise if it had been sold on the open market by a willing seller on the relevant capital valuation date. N.I.

(2) In estimating the capital value of a hereditament for the purposes of any revision of a valuation list, regard shall be had to the capital values in that valuation list of comparable hereditaments in the same state and circumstances as the hereditament whose capital value is being revised.

(3) The assumptions mentioned in paragraphs 9 to 15 shall apply for the purposes of determining whether one hereditament is a comparable hereditament in the same state and circumstances as another with the omission of sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 12.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1) “relevant capital valuation date” means 1st January 2005 or such date as the Department may substitute by order made subject to negative resolution for the purposes of a new capital value list.

Capital value – the assumptions N.I.

8.   In this paragraph and paragraphs 9 to 15— N.I.

“development” has the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Planning Order;

“flat”, in relation to a building, means a dwelling which is a separate set of premises, whether or not on the same floor, divided horizontally from some other part of the building;

“incumbrance” means any incumbrance, whether capable of being removed by the seller or not, except service charges;

“permitted development” means development for which planning permission is not required or for which no application for planning permission is required;

“Planning Order” means the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (NI 11);

“planning permission” has the meaning given by Article 2(2) of the Planning Order;

“rentcharge” has the meaning given by section 27(1) of the Ground Rents Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 (c. 5).

9.   The sale is with vacant possession. N.I.

10.   The estate sold is the fee simple absolute or, in the case of a flat, a lease for 99 years at a nominal rent. N.I.

11.   The hereditament is sold free from any rentcharge or other incumbrance. N.I.

12.— (1) The hereditament is in an average state of internal repair and fit out, having regard to the age and character of the hereditament and its locality.

(2) The hereditament is otherwise in the state and circumstances in which it might reasonably be expected to be on the relevant date.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) “relevant date” means 1st April 2007 or such date as the Department may substitute by order made subject to negative resolution for the purposes of a new capital value list.

13.   The hereditament has no development value other than value attributable to permitted development. N.I.

14.— (1) A hereditament falling (or deemed to fall) within any sub-paragraph of Article 39(1A) will always fall within that sub-paragraph. N.I.

(2) A hereditament falling (or deemed to fall) within paragraph (1B) of Article 39 will always fall within that paragraph.

15.— (1) There has been no relevant contravention of— N.I.

(a) any statutory provision; or

(b) any requirement or obligation, whether arising under a statutory provision, an agreement or otherwise.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) “relevant contravention” means a contravention which would affect the capital value of the hereditament.

Hereditaments used partly for the purposes of a private dwelling N.I.

16.— (1) This paragraph applies where a hereditament is required to be valued upon an estimate both of its net annual value and of its capital value. N.I.

(2) Where this paragraph applies—

(a) the net annual value of the hereditament shall be that portion of the rent mentioned in paragraph 1 which can reasonably be regarded as attributable to the use of the hereditament other than for the purposes of a private dwelling;

(b) the capital value of the hereditament shall be that portion of the amount mentioned in paragraph 7 which can reasonably be regarded as attributable to the use of the hereditament for the purposes of a private dwelling.]