Business Rates

If a ratepayer's sole or main property has a rateable value which does not exceed a set threshold, the ratepayer may receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for the property of up to a maximum of 100%. The level of reduction will depend on the rateable value of the property. For example eligible properties with a rateable value below a specified lower threshold will receive 100% relief while eligible properties above the lower threshold and below a specified upper threshold may receive partial relief. The relevant thresholds for relief are set by the Government by order and can be obtained by emailing businessrates@ribblevalley.gov.uk or at www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates.

Generally, these percentage reductions (reliefs) are only available to ratepayers who occupy either:

(a)     one property, or

(b)     one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed the limit set by order.

The aggregate rateable value of all the properties mentioned in (b), must also not exceed an amount set by order. For those businesses that take on an additional property which would normally have meant the loss of small business rate relief, they will be allowed to keep that relief for a fixed additional period. Full details on the relevant limits in relation to second properties and the current period for which a ratepayer may continue to receive relief after taking on an additional property can be obtained by emailing businessrates@ribblevalley.gov.uk or at www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by the ratepayer who is in receipt of relief (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes which should be notified are:

(a)     the property falling vacant,

(b)     the ratepayer taking up occupation of an additional property, or

(c)     an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief.