ENGLAND > Other Reliefs

Empty rates relief

No business rates are payable for the first 3 months that a property is empty, extended to 6 months in the case of qualifying industrial hereditaments – (e.g. warehousing, manufacturing, storage etc). After this period rates are payable in full unless exemptions apply. No empty rates are payable for vacant properties assessed at below RV £2,900.

Charities and CASCs

Charities and community amateur sports clubs can apply for relief of up to 80% if a property is used for charitable purposes. Local councils can provide additional ‘discretionary relief’ (up to 100%).

Enterprise zones

Businesses starting up or relocating to an enterprise zone can potentially qualify for enterprise zone business rates relief of up to 100% for 5 years, to a maximum of £275,000.

Rural rate relief

Businesses in a rural area with a population below 3,000 can obtain 100% business rates relief if the business is:

  • the only village shop or post office with a rateable value of up to £8,500
  • the only public house or petrol station with a rateable value of up to £12,500

Retail Hospitality and leisure relief

Retail, hospitality and leisure relief replaced the retail discount on 1 April 2022.

You could qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure relief if your business is mainly being used as a:

  • shop
  • restaurant, café, bar or pub
  • cinema or music venue
  • hospitality or leisure business – for example, a gym, a spa or a hotel

For the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 relief is calculated at 50% – up to a total value of £110,000 per business.

For the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 relief is to be calculated at 75% – up to a total value of £110,000 per business.

Local discounts and hardship relief

Local authorities have a general power to grant discretionary local discounts and some provide hardship relief if your business meets certain criteria.

Note: Many of the reliefs and discounts identified in this Apphere are subject to Subsidy Control (this replaced European State Aid de minimis thresholds). An enterprise may not receive relief which qualifies as Subsidy to greater than325,000 special Drawing Rights (around £332,000 in July 2022) over a rolling three-year period.

For more detail see Guidance on the UK’s international subsidy control commitments.