Business Rate Reliefs

Since  1 April 2022 this has been known as the Retail, Hospitality and  Leisure Relief Scheme (RHL). From 1st April 2025 the amount of relief for eligible properties will be 40%, compared to 75% in 2024/2025. 

Estate Agents, Letting Agents, Employment Agencies and Betting Shops ceased to be eligible for the discount on 1 April 2022.

For more information on Retail, Hospitality and Relief  please visit: Business rates relief: 

Retail, hospitality and leisure relief - GOV.UK

Important information about RHL

• The amount of relief available will be subject to a £110,000 cash cap per business (or companies within a group).
• The scheme is subject to the Minimal Financial Assistance limits under the Subsidy Control Act so over a three year period (2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/2026). A business (or companies within a group) may not receive more than £315,000 in subsidies.

Properties eligible for the relief are properties that are occupied and are being wholly or mainly used:

• as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas or live music venues.
• for assembly and leisure; or
• as hotels, guest & boarding premises or self-catering accommodation.

This relief is generally applied automatically, to continue receiving this relief you should complete the relevant form below to confirm you have not exceeded the cash cap/subsidy.  If the relief has not been applied and you think you should qualify please contact us by completing the contact form below.

2024/25 RHL Relief Scheme

2025/26 RHL Relief Scheme

Business Rates Contact Us

As with all reliefs, the amount awarded will be recalculated in the event of a change of circumstances such as a change to the rateable value.

The award of this relief must comply with the cash cap and the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance.

Further information on this and on the scheme may be found at the following link.

Business Rates Relief: 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme

You can get small business rate relief if:

• your business only uses one property - you may still be able to get relief if you use more
• your property's rateable value is less than £15,000

What you get

You will not pay business rates on a property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less.

For properties with a rateable value of £12,001 to £15,000, the rate of relief will go down gradually from 100% to 0%.

Examples

If your rateable value is £13,500, you'll get 50% off your bill. If your rateable value is £14,000, you'll get 33% off.

Guidance

Business rates relief: Small business rate relief - GOV.UK

Applications

Application form for Business Rate Relief for:

• Small Businesses
• Charities
• Community Amateur Sports Clubs
• Non-Profit Making Organisations

You must notify us in writing within four weeks of the first day of any of the following changes. Certain changes in circumstance will need to be notified to Erewash Borough Council if you are in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief.

The changes which should be notified are:

• taking up occupation of an additional property, and
• an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by you in an area other than Erewash which granted the relief.

How to apply

Apply for Small Business Rates Relief

Registered charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) are entitled to 80% relief on any property occupied for charitable purposes.

Other organisations that are not registered with the charities commission may still qualify for rate relief, for example:

• Boy Scouts and Girl Guides
• not-for-profit companies that are established for charitable purposes

Business Rates Charity Reduction Application

You don't have to pay business rates on empty properties for the first three months it becomes unoccupied.
The following properties can get extended empty property relief:

• Industrial premises (for example, warehouses) are exempt for a further three months.
• Properties owned by charities - this only applies if the property's next use will be for charitable purposes.
• Listed buildings - until they're re-occupied.
• Buildings with a rateable value under £2,900 - until they're re-occupied.

Full details on exemptions can be obtained from Erewash council or at GOV UK

Business rates relief: Types of business rates relief - GOV.UK

You can claim 100% rural rate relief if your business trades within areas designated as rural settlements.

Eligibility

Your business must be in an eligible rural area with a population below 3,000.

Eligible areas in included in the Rural Settlement List in Erewash are:

• Breadsall
• Dale Abbey
• Little Eaton
• Morley
• Risley
• Stanley and Stanley Common
• Stanton By Dale

Mandatory rate relief

100% reduction if your business:

• is in one of the rural areas listed
• is mainly used as a general store, post office, public house or petrol filling station
• is the only such business in the immediate area
• has a rateable value of less than £8,500 if your business is a general store or post office, or less than £12,500 it's a public house or petrol filling station.
• what additional services you provide to the community,
• your business opening hours.<

If you make certain improvements to your property, you may get relief from higher business rates bills. Improvement relief supports businesses who have invested in their property. It provides relief from higher business rates bills, where the increase in your bill was due to making certain improvements to your property and the relief lasts for 12 months from when the improvement works were completed.

You will need to inform the Valuation Office Agency of any improvements to your property. You will need to go to GOV UK - Business rates valuation account to register for a business rates valuation account. If you meet the necessary requirements, your council will apply the relief to your bills.

Business rates valuation account: sign in or set up - GOV.UK

You can find out more about which improvements are eligible by going to GOV UK: Business rates relief 

Business rates relief: Types of business rates relief - GOV.UK

How improvement relief works

You will receive a certificate from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) if you have qualifying works. The VOA will give the same information to us.

We will apply the relief and send you a revised bill if we are satisfied that you meet the occupation requirements. This means that you have occupied the property during and after the improvement works.

You can find out more about improvement relief by going to GOV UK: Business rates relief: Improvement relief

Business rates relief: Improvement relief - GOV.UK