Business rates are a headache for many small businesses, especially since the controversial 2017 revaluation. If you have business property, or, in some cases, if you work from home, you need to understand business rates and how much you might pay. The main change has amended the Local Government Finance Act 1988, to increase the empty property rate from 50% to 100% of the basic occupied business rate, after initial void periods have elapsed. For most properties, excluding industrial, the void period is three months. For industrial properties, the void period is six months. Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties - who has to pay, how your rates are calculated, getting a revaluation, what to do if your premises change Business rates - GOV.UK Skip