Under Fresh Start relief, businesses occupying long-term empty properties may be entitled to a 100% business rates discount for their first year in those premises.
Eligibility criteria includes;
- You started occupying the property on or after 1st April 2018 and the property had previously been empty for at least six months
- When last occupied, the property was used as a shop or office (pubs, restaurants and hotels included since 1st April 2014)
- The property has a rateable value under £65,000
You will not be eligible for this relief if;
- The property was occupied for less than 6 weeks during the preceding 12 months
- You are in receipt of certain other forms of relief such as Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS)
- You are in breach of the State aid de minimis limit – no more than £175,000 over a rolling three-year period
Please note that under certain circumstances, you may be entitled to more than one type of relief. These include the following;
- Growth Accelerator relief
- Vacant Rates relief
- Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS)
- Charitable relief
- Discretionary relief
- Rural relief
- Disabled relief
- Renewable Energy relief
- Transitional relief
- Day Nursery relief
- Enterprise Areas relief
To discuss any of these relief opportunities in further detail, or for assistance in applying, please contact our Rating team direct via Rating2017@g-s.co.uk.
