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Tax and Occupancy of Business Properties: Theory and Evidence from UK Business Rates

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  • Ben Lockwood
  • Martin Simmler
  • Eddy H.F. Tam

Abstract

We study the impact of commercial property taxation on vacancy rates and rents in the UK, using a new data-set, and exploiting exogenous variations in property tax rates from reliefs in the UK system: small business rate relief (SBRR), retail relief and empty property relief. We estimate that the retail relief reduces vacancies by 85%, and SBRR relief by up to 49%, while empty property exemption increases them by up to 89%. The effect of retail relief on clusters of urban properties (the “High St”) is no different to its overall effect. SBRR increases (decreases) the likelihood that a property is occupied by a small (large) business. We also use data on asking prices for rental properties to study the effect of reliefs on rental rates. Rental rates move in the opposite direction to vacancy rates, except in the case of empty property relief. All these findings are consistent with a novel model of directed search in the commercial property market, also presented in the paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Lockwood & Martin Simmler & Eddy H.F. Tam, 2023. "Tax and Occupancy of Business Properties: Theory and Evidence from UK Business Rates," CESifo Working Paper Series 10252, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10252
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Card & Andrew Johnston & Pauline Leung & Alexandre Mas & Zhuan Pei, 2015. "The Effect of Unemployment Benefits on the Duration of Unemployment Insurance Receipt: New Evidence from a Regression Kink Design in Missouri, 2003-2013," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 126-130, May.
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    3. Danielle C. Sanderson & Victoria M. Edwards, 2014. "What Tenants Want: UK occupiers' requirements when renting commercial property and strategic implications for landlords," Real Estate & Planning Working Papers rep-wp2014-03, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    4. Peter Englund & Åke Gunnelin & Patric H. Hendershott & Bo Söderberg, 2008. "Adjustment in Property Space Markets: Taking Long‐Term Leases and Transaction Costs Seriously," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 36(1), pages 81-109, March.
    5. Shouyong Shi, 2002. "A Directed Search Model of Inequality with Heterogeneous Skills and Skill-Biased Technology," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 69(2), pages 467-491.
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    Cited by:

    1. David Gstrein & Florian Neumeier & Andreas Peichl & Pascal Zamorski, 2025. "Capitalists, Workers and Landlords: A Comprehensive Analysis of Corporate Tax Incidence," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 25143, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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