“Exclusive use properties in Scotland provide accommodation solely for one customer or parties with a minimum let of one day. Normally, there is a minimum of three bedrooms, a residential licence or equivalent, and a full range of services for guests including all meals.”
According to the Scottish Assessors, Exclusive Use Venues are properties whose typical uses include a venue for weddings, conferences, corporate entertainment and private parties. The key criterion is that the property, or significant parts of it, is rented out to a single hirer at any one time.
Properties may provide facilities that range from purely a function venue, through to facilities that are similar to high quality hotels. The character of the property may range from function halls with little or no outlook, to marquees in scenic locations, grand rooms in historic homes and castles, to country houses and their associated estate. Some exclusive use venues will provide overnight accommodation either in the main building or in lodges at the property or a combination of both. This is the basis on which the rateable value of properties are valued by the Scottish Assessors.
This grant is reliant on the Exclusive Use Venue offering accommodation.
Properties used as short stay accommodation only, such as self-catering units (Commercial Properties Committee Practice Note 17), should not be valued as Exclusive Use Venues. Properties let out on a per room basis akin to hotels should be valued on the Hotel basis (Commercial Properties Committee Practice Note 20).