Small business rate relief
Small business rate relief
This scheme was first introduced in April 2005, amended in April and October 2010, revised and updated to coincide with the 2017 revaluation of commercial property and continues in the 2023 and 2026 revaluations.
Current scheme
Eligible properties up to £12,000 rateable value will receive 100% rate relief. Tapered relief will be applied on a sliding scale for qualifying properties that have a rateable value over £12,000 but up to £14,999. In addition, for eligible properties, the bill will be calculated using the small business rating multiplier.
Eligible properties between £15,000 and £50,999 will receive no relief but will have the small business non-domestic rating multiplier applied to the calculation of their bill. Non-qualifying properties will have the standard non-domestic rating multiplier used in the calculation of their bills.
The relief is only available to ratepayers who either:
- Occupy one property in England, or
- Occupy one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties have rateable values less than £2,899 and the total value of all properties remains under £19,999
The relief will be applied to one property only. The charge on the additional properties (under £2,899) will be based on the relevant non-domestic rating multiplier.
The ratepayer must notify the billing authority of particular changes in circumstances that may affect their entitlement to the relief, within four weeks starting on the day after the change occurred. These changes are:
- Increases in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer which is not in the area of the billing authority granting SBRR – these changes will have to be notified in writing; and
- The ratepayer coming into occupation of any property which is not mentioned in their original application for relief. As with the previous scheme, relief can still be granted for a period of up to three years from taking on an additional property
What period of time can I claim for
Backdated claims can be made for a maximum period of six years.
How do I claim
To make a claim please complete an application form and e-mail a scanned copy to billing.section@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk, or post it to the Billing team at the Council Offices.
If you are due a refund, this will be returned to you as soon as possible. If you pay your rates by direct debit the refund will be returned to the account from which it was debited. You do not need professional advisers to help you, if you have any concerns then please do not hesitate to contact the Council Offices on 024 7637 6534.
Taking on an additional property
The Government has announced from 2026/27 the grace period has been extended to 3 years meaning businesses will now remain eligible for SBRR on their first property for three years after expanding into a second property.