Rural Rate Relief Scheme

This page provides a brief summary of the current Rural Rate Relief schemes available:

Mandatory Relief

Certain businesses in designated areas with a population of less than 3000 may qualify for rate relief of 50%.

These businesses are:

• The sole general store or post office with a rateable value of up to £7000
• The sole pub or petrol station in the village with a rateable value of up to £10,500.

Former Agricultural Premises Relief

Certain business set up on agricultural land or buildings may be entitled to 50% relief, if the property is occupied and the rateable value is less than £7000.

Discretionary Top-up Relief

Councils are able to tope-up any mandatory relief granted up to 100%.

Discretionary Relief

Councils are able to offer up to 100% relief to the prescribed categories and other types of business within a qualifying rural settlement that have a rateable value below £14,000 and:

• the property is used for purposes which are of benefit to the local community, and
• it would be reasonable for the billing authority to award relief, having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay its council tax.
• The Council has to fund an element of any Discretionary Relief allowed.

Does your business Qualify?

To see if your business qualifies for consideration for any of the relief's shown above please e-mail the Business Rate team at business.rates@rbwm.gov.uk or telephone us on (01628) 796965 or (01628) 796623.