Business rates relief

1. Overview

Some properties are eligible for discounts from the local council on their business rates. This is called ‘business rates relief’.

Rates relief is handled differently in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You have to apply for some types of relief:

• small business rate relief
• rural rate relief
• charitable rate relief
• enterprise zone relief
• hardship relief

Your council automatically applies:

• exempted buildings and empty buildings relief
• transitional relief if your rates change by more than a certain amount at revaluation
• relief for pubs

Contact your local council if you’re not getting a relief you think you’re entitled to.

The government has announced there will be extra relief for businesses in England with the biggest rates increases as a result of the 2017 revaluation.

If your premises are affected by local disruption

You may get a temporary reduction in your business rates if your premises are affected by severe local disruption (like flooding, building or roadworks).

You report that something external to the premises has affected its value using the Valuation Office Agency service.

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