News

Water bills soon to be levied on vacant commercial properties in the Scottish Water area.

The wholesale water and waste water supplier Scottish Water set to generate £millions of additional revenue from April 1st 2017 as the current exemption for vacant commercial properties is removed.

Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham said that the introduction of the new water charges is on the basis that these empty properties benefit from water and waste water services and should therefore pay for the service.

If the new water charges are not levied water bill for others would have to increase by at least 5% over the period to 2021.

This at the same time as business rates relief on empty commercial properties has changed from 100% relief as long as the properties are completely empty to the first 6 months the property is empty after that just 10% relief.