Local Government Finance Act 1988

Central rating

52 Central rating lists

(1) In accordance with this Part the central valuation officer shall compile, and then maintain, lists (to be called central non-domestic rating lists).

(2) A list must be compiled on 1 April 1990 and on 1 April in every fifth year afterwards.

(3) A list shall come into force on the day on which it is compiled and shall remain in force until the next one is compiled five years later.

(4) Before a list is compiled the central valuation officer must take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that it is accurately compiled on 1 April concerned.

(5) Not later than 31 December preceding a day on which a list is to be compiled the central valuation officer shall send to the Secretary of State a copy of the list he proposes (on the information then before him) to compile.

(6) As soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving the copy the Secretary of State shall deposit it at his principal office.

(7) A list must be maintained for so long as is necessary for the purposes of this Part, so that the expiry of the five year period for which it is in force does not detract from the duty to maintain it.

53 Contents of central lists

(1) With a view to securing the central rating en bloc of certain hereditaments, the Secretary of State may by regulations designate a person and prescribe in relation to him a description of relevant non-domestic hereditament.

(2) Where the regulations so require, a central non-domestic rating list must show, for each day in each chargeable financial year for which it is in force, the name of the designated person and, against it, each hereditament (wherever situated) which on the day concerned—

(a) is occupied or (if unoccupied) owned by him, and

(b) falls within the description prescribed in relation to him.

(3) For each such day the list must also show against the name of the designated person the rateable value (as a whole) of the hereditaments so shown.

(4) Only one description of hereditament may be prescribed under subsection (1) above in relation to each person designated under it, but a description may contain a number of different headings.

(5) A central non-domestic rating list must also contain such information about hereditaments shown in it as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State by regulations.

54 Central rating: liability

(1) A person (the ratepayer) shall be subject to a non-domestic rate in respect of a chargeable financial year if for any day in the year his name is shown in a central non-domestic rating list in force for the year.

(2) In such a case the ratepayer shall be liable to pay an amount calculated by—

(a) finding the chargeable amount for each chargeable day, and

(b) aggregating the amounts found under paragraph (a) above.

(3) A chargeable day is one which falls within the financial year and for which the ratepayer’s name is shown in the list.

(4) The chargeable amount for a chargeable day shall be calculated in accordance with the formula—

(5) A is the rateable value shown for the day in the list against the ratepayer’s name.

(6) B is the non-domestic rating multiplier for the financial year.

(7) C is the number of days in the financial year.

(8) The amount the ratepayer is liable to pay under this section shall be paid to the Secretary of State.

(9) The liability to pay any such amount shall be discharged by making a payment or payments in accordance with regulations under Schedule 9 below.