E-Mail 

E-Mail To: All Scottish MSPs

Please see the freedom of information i go from the Highland council.

In it is the number of non domestic rate properties the are being taken to the sheriff office for recovery action on empty properties, it is 1122 individuals that are in series trouble by no fault of there own .

That is 5.76% of all non domestic rate properties which is 19488 potential business owners. That could and my well be affected at any time.

I am terrified of the end result of this, I was at the doctors yesterday as this is affecting me physically and mentally, if my property cant be sold or rented.

 Over a number of years i could loss everything.  Highland council. can just keep taking year after year, ( if rented the problem is only deferred not fixed.)

This number is only for highland council, what is the full number over Scotland . The misery this is coursing is enormous. 

What are you going to do about this appalling situation?.  I request a replay from all the named recipients in this e-mail.

Bill

To see the freedom of information request goto thr Freedom Page.

 E-mail reply 

On 10/01/2026 13:31, Mason J (John), MSP wrote:
Dear Bill
Thanks for your two emails.  As you know, you do not live in my constituency, and I am not very familiar with Kingussie.  So it would need to be one of your local councillors or MSPs who would take your own case forward.
However, I am happy to make some general points:
   There has been abuse in the past by owners who deliberately left their properties sitting empty which became a blight on the surrounding area.  A major example of this was the old Post Office building in George Square, Glasgow.  The owner made money off a huge advertising hoarding across the whole front of the building and presumably hoped that the capital value of the building would increase, also giving him a profit.  Therefore, in principle I agree that empty properties should be subject to taxation.
   If the Government or Council are to get less money from non domestic rates, where do you suggest the money should come from?  Should we increase income tax to compensate?  Or should we cut funding to the NHS, local schools, etc?  The Scottish budget has to balance, therefore, less money from NDR or any other source needs to be balanced elsewhere.
    In Glasgow we have seen a number of small shops (especially under tenements) converted into homes.  This is a good thing if there is no demand for the shops.  It seems clear that many people are buying goods online and so we do not need as many physical shops as we used to have.  Such conversions are helpful as we have a housing shortage in Glasgow.  I do not know the situation in Kingussie but I wonder if that is an option for your property.

 Anyway, thanks for being in touch and I hope this response is of some use.  As I said, it would need to be your local politicians who would take up specific issues you have.
 Yours sincerely   John
John Mason
MSP for Glasgow Shettleston – BPA airson Baile Nighean Sheadna, Glaschu
1335 Gallowgate, Parkhead Cross, Glasgow G31 4DN
Office: 0141-550 4327

      ------

 

E-Mail from: Trish Robertson  Hello William
I spoke of your situation with our revenues team. They have advised, unlike other councils Highland chose a longer introduction to the charge for empty properties.  The charge is as a result was a Scottish Government ruling. The full charge comes in 2026. This is not helpful to your situation. However, it was suggested you might investigate offering the property to Housing for conversion to residential.
Kindest regards Trish Culloden & Ardersier , Chair Audit Committee

 

E-mail reply

         thank you for your reply john.

1 There has been abuse in the past by owners:   But only some and most wont the best. I have had  my shop up for rent or to sell as soon as I was aware it was going to be sitting empty. I can't afford for it to be empty it is my pension, without the rent I have only my state pension and a very small pension about £12000. With all my house and now the shop costs, I will have nothing left to live on.

2 If the Government or Council are to get less money from non domestic rates. This rates tax was only voted in recently and Highland Council is taking 1100 people to court over it. This tax with stop people acquiring and renovating and improving properties. The shop next to me was empty for 15 years. I asked the planning here, they are against, changing it into a one bedroom flat.

What do you do with these properties that nobody wants, continue to tax the poor owner till he ends up in court?  The end result is that people like me will have nothing left. 

3 Small shops converted into homes. My shop is a good shop but cannot be converted easily and would cost a substantial amount of money, if it was even possible to convert it. 

(and so we do not need as many physical shops as we used to have) so what happens to the owners and shops are they just ignored and left to their fate. Me and my wife have had a miserable and distressing charisms.

Bill

On a More upbeat note. I received this e-mail from Graham Leadbitter MP, Member of Parliament. I think he has a more understanding reality to the situation with none domestic rates and empty properties.  

Good afternoon William,
Thank you for getting in touch and for taking the time to set out your experience in such detail. I’m sorry to hear about your ill health and the financial pressure you are now under; no one in your situation should feel trapped by the costs of an empty property. What you’ve described reflects challenges faced by many small business owners, especially in communities such as Badenoch. The SNP has long recognised this shift, which is why supporting local businesses and protecting town centres has been a major focus of our economic policy.

On the issue of business rates on empty properties, although local authorities administer the system, the framework is set nationally, and we understand that the relief available for empty units doesn’t always go far enough in cases like yours, where closure was caused by ill-health and genuine hardship. That’s why the SNP Scottish Government has committed to reviewing non-domestic rates to ensure they better reflect the realities facing Scotland’s small businesses, particularly in rural and low-footfall areas. We have already taken steps such as:

Maintaining the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which has removed or reduced rates for tens of thousands of small premises across Scotland.Keeping the Uniform Business Rate, ensuring businesses aren’t subject to the postcode-based inconsistencies seen elsewhere.

Pushing for a more flexible system, allowing Councils to tailor reliefs to the needs of their communities.

However, your case highlights where further action is needed. The current approach to empty-property relief clearly does not protect owners who, through no fault of their own, cannot operate or find a tenant yet still face ongoing bills for rates, utilities, insurance and maintenance.
I note that you have raised your case directly with the relevant people, and I am sure that they will look to explore what discretionary relief or hardship provisions may be available to you in the short term. Beyond that, I know that my colleagues and other Members you have copied in will feed your experience into the wider policy discussions already underway as we look at how to support high streets, prevent long-term vacancy and make the system fairer for those who simply cannot afford to reopen or sell.
Thanks again for writing. If you feel I can assist you with anything else, do let me know.
 Regards | Le deagh dhùrachdan, Graham
--Graham Leadbitter MP, Member of Parliament for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Email: graham.leadbitter.mp@parliament.uk , Facebook: fb.com/GrahamLeadbitterSNP