This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Empty Commercial Property'.









 
 
 
Resources Directorate 
Paul Norris 
 
2nd Floor (West) 
whatdotheyknow.com  
 Civic 
Hall 
 
 Leeds 
LS1 
1JF 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact: Paul Burns 
 
 
xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx 
 Our 
reference: 
FOI 7782 
 
2 May 2012 
 
Dear Paul Norris 
 
Freedom of Information Request: Empty Commercial Property 
 
I am writing regarding your Freedom of Information (the Act) request which I received on 25 
April 2012. In your request you asked for the following information:  
 
1. The addresses and a brief description (e.g., shop, office, etc),  BA reference and rateable 
value of all vacant commercial premises with a current rateable value over £40,000 within 
the Leeds City Council area. 
 
2. The names and addresses of the organisations or companies who are liable to pay rates 
at the premises referred to in (1) 
 
The attached spreadsheet contains details of all properties with a rateable value over 
£40,000 which showed as unoccupied on our Non Domestic Rates records as at 25th April 
2012. 
 
The disclosure of information regarding individuals is exempt under section 40 (Personal 
Information) of the Act. Details of any property owned by an individual have been removed. 
 
The contact address has not been disclosed. Many of the accounts are issued to 
professional rating agents or other third parties with whom the ratepayer has a commercial 
relationship and we believe that it would be a breach of confidentiality to disclose this 
information and therefore the exemption under Section 41 is applicable. Furthermore Section 
21 (Information reasonably accessible) is also applicable as the registered offices of all 
limited companies are publicly available via Companies House. 
 
I trust my reply serves to assist in your enquiry.  If you have any queries about this letter, 
please feel free to contact me. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
www.leeds.gov.uk 
0113 222 4444 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to 
make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: 
 
Freepost RLZR-ELTX-RUEH 
Leeds City Council 
PO Box 657 
LS1 9BS   
 
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the 
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 
for a decision.  Generally the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the 
complaints procedure provided by Leeds City Council.   
 
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
 
Paul Burns 
Freedom of Information & Data Protection Officer 
 
www.leeds.gov.uk 
0113 222 4444