The British Property Federation (BPF) is urging the industry to support a new petition calling for the coalition government's empty rates hike to be scrapped. It asks for the removal of the "unfair" Empty Property Rates (EPR) threshold from £2,600 Rateable Value (RV). The BPF wants reinstatement of the £18,000 RV threshold under which EPR are not payable for a minimum period of two years.

Known as the "bombsite Britain" tax, EPR levies full business rates on unoccupied offices, shops and warehouses. The BPF says it has led to millions of square feet of property being demolished since its introduction.

The government lowered the threshold from £18,000 to £2,600 in April this year, costing businesses an estimated £400 million annually. Under new provisions, if the petition attracts 100,000 signatures, it would have to be debated in parliament.

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the BPF, said: "The property industry needs to keep fighting this tax on hardship that has had such a damaging impact on both the industry itself and the wider economy."