Rates on a (largish) lock-up?

[Noogly]

I've been trying to find somewhere to keep and mess with a couple of vehicles for ages now, just about bought a reasonable size unit / lock up.

My local council tell me there are just two options for rates, domestic if you live there and business if you don't and insist I have to pay business rates. That sucks!
If you aren't a business then they best they can offer is small business relief as turnover is less than £XXX,XXX a year!

Anyone know of any other options here?
The unit has been used for business purposes previously so it is "capable" of being a business, I'm just going to use it for storage etc.

It's probably just going to boil down to the local council interpreting the rules to suit themselves with no opportunity to challenge them, just wondered if there are any examples out there of non business rated lock-ups / work shop separate from the home property.

Cheers!

[davidjpowell]

Business rates are actually non-domestic rates. Only thing you can look at is the assessment to see if you can get it reduced.

[Noogly]

davidjpowell said:

Business rates are actually non-domestic rates. Only thing you can look at is the assessment to see if you can get it reduced.

Bugger
Oh well.
By assessment I guess you mean the rateable value?
No other tricks or loopholes?

Cheers,
Andy

[davidjpowell]

If it's empty yes, can be a few. Otherwise not really.

I suppose you could try and argue that it's ancillary to a residential dwelling. Would not rate your chances though.