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Retail Trade: Urban Areas

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentTreasuryTabled Answered 9 June 2025UIN 55843

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of tax disincentives that prevent pension property owners from letting units at reduced rates on (a) high street regeneration and (b) town centre vacancy rates.

Answered by Torsten Bell

Pension schemes can rent out commercial property at below market value.

The only restriction on this is that there is an unauthorised payment charge where the tenant is connected with the pension scheme. This rule prevents value being transferred out of the pension scheme and the Government has no plans to review this.

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