
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Rates (Unoccupied Hereditaments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 and shall come into operation on 5th December 2017.
2 
In the Schedule to the Rates (Unoccupied Hereditaments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011, after paragraph 19 there shall be added the following paragraph—“
20. 

(1) Subject to the conditions in sub-paragraph (2), the hereditament is located in an area included within a scheme made under Article 26 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 and the person entitled to possession of the hereditament has qualified for payment from a council assisted under that scheme.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) applies only to a hereditament which—
(a) is unoccupied due to flooding following heavy rain or tidal surge;
(b) has been so unoccupied for a continuous period not less than four weeks; and
(c) when last in occupation was the only or principle residence of the person now entitled to possession of the hereditament.
(3) Where sub-paragraph (2)(b) applies the exclusion for the unoccupied hereditament will be up to a maximum of six months per incident.”
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 4th December 2017
Brian McClure
A senior officer of the Department of Finance
