Rural Rate Relief (England)

Description

Wipes out the business rates bill entirely for the last shop, pub, post office or petrol station in a small village — a 100% relief rather than a discount. The property has to be in a designated rural settlement with a population below 3,000, and it has to be the only business of its type there: the village general store, food shop or post office qualifies with a rateable value up to £8,500, and the sole public house or petrol station qualifies up to £12,500. Two different types of business in the same village can each claim. The property must be occupied. This sits alongside Small Business Rates Relief rather than on top of it — your council will apply whichever gives the better outcome, so it's worth asking which you're actually getting.

Eligibility summary

• Available in: England.
• Applicant must be a registered business.
• Most relevant to: Retail, Hospitality & Tourism.

Notes

You must be the only business of that type in the area, though businesses of different types can each qualify. The property must be occupied. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate rural/small business rates schemes rather than this one — see the nation-specific small business rates relief entries in this directory.

Location

The property must be in an eligible rural area (a designated rural settlement) with a population below 3,000.

Rateable value limit

Up to £8,500 for the only village general store, food shop or post office; up to £12,500 for the only public house or petrol station.