To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 15 October 2008, Official Report, column 1322W, on housing: valuation, whether a material change to a domestic dwelling because of a new state of disrepair may result in a change to the potential valuation of a dwelling for business rates (a) prior to and (b) during the 2010 revaluation. (251969)

Domestic dwellings are not liable for business rates. A composite dwelling forms part of a domestic and non-domestic occupation, but the domestic dwelling value apportionment is banded for council tax, while the non-domestic element will appear in a rating list. All domestic dwellings, whether composite or not, are subject to the assumption they are in reasonable repair, thus a state of disrepair to the dwelling would not affect the band. This will apply to situations (a) and (b).