General Rate Act 1967

8 (1) Where a rating authority are of opinion—

(a) that the erection of a building within their area has been completed ; or

(b) that the work remaining to be done on a building within their area is such that the erection of the building can reasonably be expected to be completed within three months,

and that the building is, or when completed will be, comprised in a relevant hereditament, the authority may serve on the owner of the building a notice (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as " a completion notice ") stating that the erection of the building is to be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as completed on the date of service of the notice or on such later date as may be specified by the notice.

(2) If a person on whom a completion notice is served agrees in writing with the authority by whom the notice was served that the erection of the building to which the notice relates shall be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as completed on a day specified by the agreement, it shall be treated for those purposes as completed on that day and the notice shall be deemed to be withdrawn.

(3) Where a rating authority has served a completion notice on any person, the authority may withdraw the notice by a subsequent notice served on that person; and a notice under this sub-paragraph may be served—

(a) at any time before an appeal in pursuance of sub-paragraph (4) of this paragraph is brought against the completion notice; and

(b) with the agreement of the person aforesaid, at any time thereafter and before the appeal is determined.

(4) A person on whom a completion notice is served may, during the period of twenty-one days beginning with the date of service of the notice, appeal to the county court against the notice on the ground that the erection of the building to which the notice relates has not been or, as the case may be, cannot reasonably be expected to be completed by the date specified by the notice.

(5) If a completion notice served in respect of a building is not withdrawn and no appeal in pursuance of sub-paragraph (4) of this paragraph is brought against the notice or such an appeal is abandoned or dismissed, the erection of the building shall be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as completed on the date specified by the notice; and if the notice is not withdrawn and such an appeal is brought and is not abandoned or dismissed, the erection of the building shall be treated for those purposes as completed on such date as the court shall determine.

(6) A notice under this paragraph may, without prejudice to any other mode of service, be served on any person—

(a) by sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service, addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode, or, in a case where an address for service has been given by that person, at that address ; or

(b) in the case of an incorporated company or body, by delivering it to the secretary or clerk of the company or body at their registered or principal office, or sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service, addressed to the secretary or clerk of the company or body at that office ; or

(c) where the name or address of that person cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry, by addressing it to him by the description of " owner " of the building (describing it) to which the notice relates and by affixing it to some conspicuous part of the building.