Eligibility

The government acknowledged that more assistance should be given to small, single property businesses. On 1 April 2005 they introduced the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme (SBRR) for businesses meeting the qualifying criteria.

You may be eligible if your business:

From 1 April 2017

  • occupies one property in England which has a rateable value of less than £51,000
  • occupies one main property in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 and other additional properties providing those properties have rateable values of less than £2,899 with the total rateable value of all properties being under £19,999

Businesses occupying only one property in England where the rateable value is above £15,000 but below £51,000 are in the 'buffer zone'. Businesses who fall into this category are not entitled to relief, but will not have to pay the supplement either.

From 1 April 2024, all properties with a rateable value under £51,000 will pay Business Rates based on the small business non-domestic rating multiplier.

Ratepayers can only claim relief in respect of one property. Ratepayers must meet the criteria on every chargeable day for which they claim relief.

From 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017

  • occupies one property in England which has a rateable value of less than £18,000
  • occupies one main property in England with a rateable value of less than £12,000 and other additional properties providing those properties have rateable values of less than £2,599 with the total rateable value of all properties being under £18,000

Businesses occupying only one property in England where the rateable value is above £12,000 but below £18,000 are in the 'buffer zone'. Such Businesses who fall into this category are not entitled to relief, but will not have to pay the supplement either.

Ratepayers using more than one property in England may also qualify if the other properties each have a rateable value of less than £2,900 and the total value of all the properties is less than £20,000. In these cases only the main property will be given the relief.