Business Rates

[MarillionFan]

If I charged market rates for the office rooms I rent out, nobody would rent them. Instead I charge half the market rate. And my rates...stay the same because they are based on the maximum rent possible, not what I am actually charging. And if I leave the place empty I get charged empty rates. Lovely..a economic downturn and I'm screwed and the govt. could give a rats ass.

Nevermind the utility companies charging about £1/day each as a standing charge.

And if rates went down you'd be able to put your rent up.

[lilelvis2000]

And if rates went down you'd be able to put your rent up.

If rates went down I could charge less rent and still be able to pay the bills. The rents right now are just at break even. Were rates to go up, than i'd have to increase rents. But then the tenants would probably just move out.

[TykeMerc]

The really stupid thing about all this kerfuffle over the failing High Street is that near enough everywhere still charges for parking. Essentially it's an extra tax that the out of town shoppers don't have to pay, and then we wonder why people don't go to the High Street shops anymore.

It's certainly a major contributor, I only have to look at how my behavior changed with my home town.
There used to be reasonably abundant (if you didn't find one straight away 5 mins would cover it) on street parking, no fees 1.5 hours max stay, enforced fairly enthusiastically by the parking vultures.
A few years back they took out at least 50% of the spaces by a combination of pointless chicanes and pedestrianisation of streets no-one walked up anyway, introduced ticketed parking via expensive and not reliable, correct change only machines and cut the time you could stay to max 1 hour.

Net effect the town center no longer has many cars in it and certainly isn't plagued by many shoppers. Before the change I often would nip into town for something or other, post change I genuinely can't recall the last time I went into a town center shop.
The town was famous with its traders for having horribly high rates and rents (council owned units), but because there was a fairly large amount of business it was sustainable. Post changes to parking that level of business dropped below the the levels needed and a load of shops have closed.
I'm sure that scenario is repeated all over the country.

[Dactylion]

Um, most people working for the council earn like £19K.

FFS are you a teenage, chav?

[d000hg]

FFS are you a teenage, chav?

You've employed text-speak (FFS) and can't use commas correctly. Well done.