Small Business Rate Relief

You can apply for if your property is in use and has a rateable value under £18,000. Your bill will be re-calculated using a reduced multiplier.

If your rateable value is under £6,000 you will receive a 100% reduction until 31 March 2017. Properties with a rateable value between £6,000 and £12,000 can get a reduction on a sliding scale between 100-0%.

You can also apply if you have more than one business property and the rateable value of each other properties is under £2,600. The total rateable value of all the properties must be less than the £18,000. In these cases only the main property will be eligible for the relief and the full charge will remain due on any additional properties.

Changes from 1 April 2017

From 1 April 2017, there will be changes to the Small Business Rates Relief scheme. The £6,000 and £12,000 thresholds will increase to £12,000 and £15,000 respectively. Properties with rateable values of £12,000 or below that meet the eligibility criteria will receive 100% relief. Those with rateable values between £12,001 and £14,999 will receive tapered relief.

If you are already in receipt of this relief these change will be automatically applied and you do not need to do anything.

How does the scheme work?

• The scheme applies only to occupied property and relief can only be applied to one main property, subject to rateable value limits:
• Rateable Values up to £12,000: The sole or main business property will be eligible for 100% relief of the charge that is applicable to the lower, 46.6p in the pound;
• Rateable Values £12,001 to £14,999: The sole or main business property will be eligible for tapered SBR relief again on the basis of the charge that is applicable using the lower, 46.6p in the pound;
• Rateable Values £15,000 to £50,999: The sole or main business property will be again be charged on the lower, 46.6p in the pound, but will it will NOT qualify for any SBR relief.
• If there is more than one business property: As long as the other properties have a rateable value of less than £2,899 and the total for all the other properties, including the main one, does not exceed £19,999, then the taxpayer will still qualify for SBR. However, SBR will only be applied on the main business property.
• Rateable Values £51,000 and over: These properties will not be eligible for SBR relief and they will pay the higher rate poundage of 47.9p in the pound. This higher rate does include a small supplementary charge towards the cost of this new scheme.
• If any other business rate relief is allowed: If a property receives charitable or rural rate relief, it will only continue to receive the relief it receives already.

You are reminded that by applying for SBR relief, you are confirming that you either only have one main business in England and/or you meet any of the first four points. Giving false information or knowingly making an application to obtain relief when you are not entitled to it is a criminal offence.

Apply for small business rate relief

Charitable relief

There are two types of Charitable Rate Relief - mandatory and discretionary. You can get up to 80% relief for mandatory and up to 100% relief for discretionary. You can apply if you meet any of the following:

Mandatory

• A property that is in use by a charity or trustees for a charity and is used for charitable purposes.
• An empty property where the ratepayer is a charity or trustee for a charity and the property will be used for charitable purposes in the future.

Discretionary

• The ratepayer is a charity or trustees for a charity and the property will mainly be used for charitable purposes in the future.
• All or part of the property is in use for charitable purposes for one or more non-profit organisations.
• All or part of the property is occupied for the purpose of a non-profit club, society, or other organisation.

Apply for charitable rate relief

Rural relief

There are two types of Rural Rate Relief - mandatory and discretionary. You can get up to 100% relief off of the charge. You can apply if you meet the following:

Mandatory

• A post office or general store that is the only one in the community and has a rateable value of less than £8,500. The post office and general store can be in part use and can be combined.
• A pub or petrol station that is the only one in the community and has a rateable value of less than £12,500.

Discretionary

This applies to a property that has a rateable value of less than £16,500 that is within the boundaries of a rural village. We may not allow the relief if we are not satisfied that the property is used for the benefit of the community.

Rural village list

These are the villages that currently have a population under 3,000 for the purpose of awarding Rural Rate Relief:

Apply for rural rate relief

Other types of relief

Empty Property

You may be eligible for relief if your property is empty and unfurnished. You can receive 100% relief for the first three months the property is empty and unfurnished. If the property is industrial, for example a warehouse, you will receive the relief for six months. When the 100% relief period has ended you will need to pay the full amount.

If the rateable value of the empty property is less than £2,600 you won’t have to pay Business Rates on an empty property. Once your property is occupied the exemption will stop.

Hardship Relief

If you’re having trouble paying your business rates you can apply for Hardship Relief. This is given at our discretion, is only a short-term relief and will only be given if it is in the interest of the community and taxpayers of the borough.

Part Occupied Property

You can apply to pay less business rates if only part of your property is occupied. The unoccupied part must only be empty for a short time. We will ask the valuation officer for a certificate advising what the rateable value of the occupied part of your property is and you will only get charged for that part.

When you apply for a part occupied property relief, you'll need to attach a plan showing the occupied and unoccupied parts of the property.

Apply for other types of relief

Exemptions

Some land and property won’t have to pay business rates. These are:

• Agricultural land and buildings
• Fish farms
• Places of religious worship
• Sewers and properties belonging to drainage companies
• Parks
• Properties used for disabled people. For example training, welfare services, workshops
• Air raid protection works
• Swinging moorings
• Road crossings over a river
• Property in enterprise zones
• Visiting forces

To find out the definitions of each of the types of properties and land you can check out the Legislation website.

Email nndr@midkent.gov.uk or call 01622 602230 if you think your property is exempt.