If you pay business rates you may be eligible for a business rate relief or exemption. Below is a list of the available reliefs and exemptions, followed by the application forms.
Small business rate relief
In general terms, if the rateable value of your premises is £12,000 or less and you occupy only one main commercial property in England, you will be eligible for small business rate relief. For rateable values between £12,001 and £15,000, a tapered amount of relief applies. For rateable values of £15,000 and over but less than £51,000, small business rate relief does not apply, but Business Rates liability will be calculated using the small business rates multiplier.
Find out more about small business rate relief.
Supporting small business relief
Supporting Small Business Relief was introduced for the revaluation in 2017 and was extended to the 2023 revaluation.
Its purpose is to phase in the impact of increases in rate bills arising from the revaluation, which meant that Business Ratepayers, in some instances, lost some or all of their entitlement to Small Business Relief.
For example, if a Business Ratepayer had a rateable value for their property of £11,950 for the 2017 Local Rating List and was entitled to Small Business Rate Relief of 100% and their rateable value increased to £15,100 in the 2023 Local Rating List such that they ceased to be entitled to Small Business Rate Relief.
The amount of relief awarded, is a maximum of £50.00 per month, or £600 per year throughout the duration of the current rating list which ends on 31.3.2026. For clarification purposes, the award of any such relief may end before 31.3.2026 where entitlement conditions cease. For full details of the scheme, please view the Supporting Small Business Relief Policy.
There is no need to make an application for this reduction, as the award is automatically made and will be automatically shown on your bill.
Empty (Unoccupied) Property Exemptions
If your property is unoccupied, you may be eligible for an unoccupied property exemption. Find out more from Empty property exemptions for businesses.
If your business premises are empty, please provide evidence to support this using the Business rates evidence form.
Transitional Relief
Transitional Relief will be automatically awarded for eligible premises. For further information see Transitional Relief.
Relief for charitable organisations
Charities, or trustees of a charity, may be entitled to apply for an 80% reduction in their business rates. The reduction depends on the property being occupied either wholly or mainly for the charity's purposes. To qualify, the organisation will normally need to be registered as a charity with the Charity Commission or comply with the objectives of a charitable organisation.
Other types of organisations that may qualify are:
- Voluntary Aided schools
- Girl Guide and Boy Scout groups
- Societies registered under the Friendly Societies Act
Charity shops may also be eligible for relief where they are used wholly or mainly for the sale of goods donated to the charity and the proceeds of sale are applied for the purposes of the charity.
Community Amateur Sports Clubs that are registered with the Inland Revenue as a (CASC) are entitled to apply for an 80% reduction in their business rates.
See below for application forms
Discretionary rate relief
The council has the discretion to award additional relief to charities and non-profit making organisations. You can view the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy. Please contact us for further information using the Business rates evidence form.
Hardship relief
This relief is intended to support businesses that are experiencing hardship. You can view the Hardship Relief Policy. Please contact us for further information using the Business rates evidence form.
Business Rates Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief
Business Rates Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief applied to eligible occupied properties from 1st April 2023. It continues to apply from 1st April 2024 and will cease on 31st March 2025, although eligibility may cease from an earlier date, should your business cease to meet the qualifying conditions sooner. The relief amount is 75% of your bill after other reliefs have been applied.
There is no rateable value limit that applies to either the 2023/24 or 2024/25 Scheme.
For more information, please view the policy for 2024-25.
If you think you may qualify, please submit an application to us now using the link given below to access an electronic application form.
If you were already getting retail, hospitality and leisure relief for 2023/24, it will be awarded automatically on your annual bill for 2024/25, unless, as in accordance with guidance, we believe that your business would reasonably be expected to exceed the £110,000 cap or is now an excluded business.
Find out more and apply for Business Rates Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief
Heating networks business rate relief scheme
This relief was introduced from 1st April 2022 and has become mandatory from 1st April 2024. You can view the Heat network business rate relief policy.
If you believe you may be entitled to this relief, please send details of why you believe you qualify using our Business rates evidence form.
Apply
To apply you will need to:
- Download and complete the appropriate form below
- Scan the completed form and relevant documents using either a scanner or taking a picture of it using your mobile phone.
- Send the scanned/pictured image to your computer e.g. by email or text
- Attach the image and answer the questions on the evidence form