Public telephone and interactive kiosks (including AA/RAC kiosks)
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-28)

This publication is intended for Valuation Officers. It may contain links to internal resources that are not available through this version.

1. Scope

This class encompasses public telephone kiosks (including those of motoring organisations) and interactive kiosks.

The majority of public telephone kiosks in the UK are operated by the major telecommunications fixed line networks which are subject to a universal service obligation.

Public access telephone kiosks belonging to companies with a universal service obligation are included within their individual Central List or local list (cumulo) entries therefore no separate local list entry should be made for telephone kiosks that are occupied by these companies.

Interactive kiosks have a TV screen often with touch controls and are linked by telephone lines to customers who offer goods and services or to internet providers or web sites offering local information and ticket booking facilities.

Where a site is jointly occupied as an automatic teller machine (ATM) and public telephone kiosk then full details of the site including photographs must be referred to National Valuation Unit before any list alteration or entry takes place.

2. List description and special category code

All the above types of separately assessed site should be categorised as follows:

3. Responsible teams

Regional Valuation Units (RVUs) are responsible for this class of hereditament, including individual list entries, revisions for material changes of circumstances and appeal settlements. All RVUs through their unit mast coordinators (UMC) and the Telecoms team within the National Valuation Unit are responsible for ensuring effective co-ordination takes place.

4. Co-ordination

The mast class co-ordination team (CCT) has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of this class. This team is responsible for the approach including accuracy and consistency of rating public telephone kiosks and interactive kiosks. The team will deliver Practice Notes describing the valuation basis for revaluation and provide advice as necessary during the life of the rating lists. Caseworkers have a responsibility to;
- follow the advice given at all times – practice notes are mandatory
- not depart from the guidance given on appeals or maintenance work, without approval from the co-ordination team
- seek advice from the co-ordination team before starting any new work.
5. Legal framework

5.1 Telephone kiosks are a rateable occupation of land under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 Section 64 (4) (a).

Regulation 6 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (SI 1989/1060) applies to all contiguous assets of fixed line telecommunication networks that physically extend beyond a single billing authority boundary. The Regulations provide for the hereditament to be entered in the rating list of the single billing authority where the property has greatest value. Other arrangements apply in the following circumstances:
- those networks covered by the Central Rating List (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/551), or the Central Rating List (Wales) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/442, W40)
- those networks covered by the non-domestic rating (communications and light railways) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/549)
Designation in either a) or b) allows the networks of the designated person to be treated as one network, even if parts of it are not contiguous. These regulations cover the main operators of public telephone kiosks.

5.2 Emergency motorway phone sites are assumed to be part of the public highway occupation, struck with sterility and therefore should not be assessed.

5.3 The provision of Public Call Boxes is an obligation under the Communications Act 2003 for Universal Service Providers (USPs). Should a USP wish to remove a Public Call Box they must follow the statutory procedures.

5.4 Planning permission is not required under General Permitted Development rights but operators are required to notify local authorities when a kiosk is installed. Kiosks in conservation areas do need planning permission and generally conform to specific design requirements.

6. Survey requirements

The type of survey requirements differ depending on the type of site being considered.

6.1 Kiosks that are occupied independently from a telephone cable network are often found in pairs or groups of four, and where they are contiguous to each other they will form one unit of assessment. However, several kiosks on one street, which are not contiguous, should be individually assessed.

6.2 Some payphones have been installed within separate compartments in bus shelters and these kiosk compartments should be treated as occupied for a different purpose from the bus shelter and assessed separately, where applicable.

6.3 It is considered that a phone mounted to a simple pole or simply fixed to a wall with no hood can be considered as de minimis.

6.4 Existing kiosks should be left in the rating list as long as the rateable parts, such as the hood or kiosk, remain. The fact the non-rateable phone may have been vandalised or removed is insufficient to warrant a deletion as, vacant and to let, it is assumed the hypothetical tenant brings in the non-rateable assets.

7. Survey capture

For the 2021 rating list, both Scat codes 141 and 228 are to be data captured and the valuations prepared as with other “bulk class” hereditaments in the rating support application (RSA).

For clarification the main details are:
- location codes:
- construction type KSK1, KSK2 or KSK3 note these correspond to the sublocation type
- KSK1 – full self-enclosed box, known as a “Full Box” for the valuation scheme.
- KSK2 – a partially enclosed or open kiosk which is either sheltered under a hood or open
- KSK3 – interactive/internet kiosk (Scat 141) generally of standard design
8. Valuation approach

A simplified method of valuation is considered appropriate, adopting a percentage of receipts.

9. Valuation support

All Scat code 141 and 228 valuations must be carried out within RSA.

Practice note: 2023 - interactive telephone kiosks

1. Market appraisal

1.1 Whilst the increased use of handheld personal communication devices has reduced demand for telephone kiosks used exclusively for telephony, alternative motives for kiosk occupation have emerged (particularly in prominent city centre sites) where advertising can be hosted.

2. Ratepayer discussions

2.1 No discussions have been held with the industry.

3. Valuation Scheme

3.1 Public telephone kiosk (telecommunications providers with a universal service obligation (USO))

3.1.1 These kiosks form part of the hereditament of the telecommunications provider with a USO and are therefore not to be entered as a separate entry in the rating list.

3.2 Public telephone kiosk (telecommunication providers without a universal service obligation)

3.2.1 The kiosk will form a separate assessment in the rating list.

3.2.2 The kiosk may be:

(1) A full self-enclosed box known as a “Full Box”, and for the valuation scheme identified as being a KSK1

(2) A partially enclosed or open kiosk which is either sheltered under a hood or open. For the valuation scheme these are identified as being a KSK2.

3.3 Valuation for types KSK1 and KSK2 (Public telephones)

3.3.1 For the 2023 rating list no change is proposed to the two valuation bands:

The default RV for any new payphone kiosk or any case where receipts information is not available is £200 RV/kiosk. If receipts information subsequently comes to light on existing kiosks to suggest the RV should be £100 RV then the assessment should be reviewed.

3.4 Interactive kiosks / street hubs

3.4.1 Where a street hub has an advertising display screen in separate occupation from the telecommunications provider, the advertising station should form a separate hereditament in the rating list and the valuation should follow the advice for advertising rights and stations (RM section 6, part 3, section 20) large format ‘digital/electronic/interactive’.

3.4.2 The non-advertising structure of the kiosk follows guidance above at 3.1 - 3.3.

3.5 Kiosks with non-public telephone alternative uses

3.5.1 Mobile antennae – this should be valued as a pico cell and follow the mobile telecommunications practice note.

3.5.2 Commercial uses such as coffee kiosks, workshops and office pods should be valued having regard to local tone for that particular use.

3.5.3 Non-commercial uses such for example community, heritage and art installation should follow the valuation approach shown in 3.2.

Practice note : 2017 - public telephone and interactive kiosks (including AA/RAC kiosks)

1. Market appraisal

No open market rental evidence exists.

2.Changes From the last Practice note

It is understood that these installations are no longer being rolled out due to the wide availability and use of hand held personal communication devices (phones /tablets and laptops).

3. Ratepayer discussions

No discussions with the industry

4. Valuation scheme

There are two main categories:

A. Public Telephones (Public Telephones and limited access Kiosks ) SCAT 228.

These may be a full self enclosed box; known as a Full Box and for the valuation scheme identified as being a KSK1

Or A partially enclosed or open kiosk which is either sheltered under a hood or open. For the valuation scheme these are identified as being a KSK2

B. Interactive/Internet Kiosks SCAT 141 are generally of a standard design and for the valuation scheme these are identified as being KSK3

4.1 Valuation for Types KSK1 and KSK2 (Public telephones)

For the 2017 rating list it is proposed there is no change to the two valuation bands:

The default RV for any new payphone kiosk or any where receipts information is not available is £100 RV/kiosk, subject to checking if any in the locality are valued at £200 RV. If receipts information subsequently comes to light on existing kiosks to suggest the RV should be £200 RV then the assessment should be reviewed.

4.1.2 Valuation for Types KSK1 and KSK2 (Limited Access Kiosks) for example those used by motoring organisations

This group do not operate as public telephones and have a limited access to the breakdown service provider only. The increasing ownership of mobile phones has also reduced the supply of this type of installation. There are two types of installation
- Older kiosk type phone sites to be valued at £100.
- Phone installed inside a small pole at the side of the road -considered de minimus.
4.2 Valuation for Types KSK3 (Interactive Kiosk)

No new evidence has come to light; therefore an RV of £200 should be adopted for a single Interactive Kiosk – KSK3.

4.3 Multiple kiosks

For groups of contiguous Kiosks (more than one co-located on private / public land) the average takings of all the kiosks should be calculated when determining the appropriate RV for the group.

Example 1

Two back-to-back Kiosks located on the High Street, kiosk 1 achieves £1700 pa with Kiosk 2 achieving £2,800.

Kiosk 1 Gross Receipts – 2008 £1700

Kiosk 2 Gross Receipts – 2008 £2800

Total for the pair £4500

Average Gross Receipts as at AVD: £2250

From Scale; £100 per kiosk – therefore 2 kiosks Total RV - £200