The Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Basis of valuation

8.—(1) In Article 39 of the principal Order (basis of valuation), for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted the following paragraphs—

“(1) For the purposes of this Order every hereditament shall, except as provided by paragraphs (1A) to (1C), be valued upon an estimate of its net annual value.

(1A) For the purposes of this Order the following hereditaments shall be valued upon an estimate of their capital value—

(a) any dwelling-house;

(b) any private garage;

(c) any private storage premises.

(1B) For the purposes of this Order, every hereditament which, though not a dwelling-house, is used partly for the purposes of a private dwelling shall be valued upon an estimate both of its net annual value and of its capital value.

(1C) For the purposes of paragraphs (1A) and (1B), any hereditament—

(a) which is not in use; and

(b) which the Commissioner or the district valuer considers will, when next in use, fall within any sub-paragraph of paragraph (1A) or within paragraph (1B),

shall be deemed to be in use and to fall within that sub-paragraph of paragraph (1A) or, as the case may be, within paragraph (1B).”.

(2) In Part I of Schedule 12 to the principal Order (basis of valuation), after paragraph 6 there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

“Capital value – general rule

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.

(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

8.   In this paragraph and paragraphs 9 to 15—

“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.

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.

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

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.

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

(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—

(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

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.

(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.”.