Small businesses are currently entitled to 50% rates relief on properties that have been empty for more than three months, but Chancellor Gordon Brown has confirmed that this is to end.

Following recommendations from the Barker Report, Mr Brown said business rates relief on empty commercial property should be restricted as it causes rates to increase in areas where demand is high.

His instructions are that relief should be restricted to six months for empty industrial properties, and three months for empty offices and retail premises, as reported by Accountancy Age.