Small Business Rate Relief
The Small Business Rate Relief scheme is available for eligible non-domestic properties and came into effect from 1st April 2005. Properties with a rateable value of £6,000 or less are eligible for 50% rate relief on their liability, with higher rated properties (up to £12,000) receiving relief on a decreasing scale. Further details of eligibility are contained in the document entitled "Eligibility for Small Business Rate Relief" located at the bottom of this page.
If you do not wish to complete the rate relief application online, a printable version can be obtained at the bottom of the page.
Temporary Increase in Level of Small Business Rate Relief
The Government has increased the level of relief from October 2010. For the period from 1/10/10 to 30/03/13 only, ratepayers eligible for this relief will get either:
a) a 100% reduction for properties with a rateable value of £6,000 or less,
or
b) increased relief for properties with a rateable value of between £6,001 and £12,000.
These changes will automatically be shown on the bills sent to eligible ratepayers for this period.
Unoccupied Property Rating
Non-Domestic properties which are unoccupied may be liable for empty property rates. Rates are charged at 100% of the full rate bill (or transitional bill if applicable). Liability begins after the property has been empty for three months. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties.
In most cases, properties owned by charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs are exempt. In addition, there are a number of other exemptions from the empty property rate including (for 2010/11 only) empty properties with a rateable value of less than £18,000. Details of changes for these properties from 01/04/11
Full details of other exemptions can be obtained from the Business Rates section
Charitable and Discretionary Relief
Charities are entitled to relief from rates on any non-domestic property which is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes. Relief is given at 80% of the full rate bill (or the transitional bill if applicable). From the 1st April 2004 amateur sports clubs can also qualify for 80% mandatory relief provided they are registered with the Inland Revenue as a Community Amateur Sports Club, known as CASC's. The Council has discretion to remit all or part of the remaining 20% of a charity's bill on such property and also has discretion to remit all or part of any rate bill in respect of property occupied by certain bodies not established or conducted for profit. >> Complete a claim form
* If you do not already have Acrobat Reader software, you can download this here
Useful information on business rate reductions are available from this link
