Section 17 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsections (2) and (3) the following:

"(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), for the purposes of any valuation falling to be made under this Act, an officer may, if he or she thinks it proper to do so having regard to the circumstances of the matter -

(a) value or cause to be valued contiguous relevant properties that are occupied by one person as a single relevant property even though those properties are held under different titles, and

(b) if a relevant property comprises 2 or more parts capable of being occupied separately, value or cause to be valued the several parts as separate relevant properties even though those parts are occupied by the one person.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), for the purposes of any valuation falling to be made under this Act, in the case of non-contiguous relevant properties that are occupied by the one person an officer may value or cause to be valued those properties as a single relevant property if, in the opinion of the officer, a valuation that reflects those properties’ true economic nature cannot be arrived at (because of the particular character of those properties) without treating them in that manner.

(4) Where the officer values or causes to be valued relevant properties or, as the case may be, parts of a relevant property in the manner referred to in subsection (2) or (3), the relevant properties or parts shall be treated as a single relevant property or, as the case may be, separate relevant properties for all the other purposes of this Act.