M. Business Rates Expanded Retail Discount Scheme Localism Act 2011 (Section 47 of the LGFA as amended)
Overview
The purpose of the Business Rates Retail Discount Scheme was to support businesses, with a rateable value of less than £51,000, that are wholly or mainly being used as shops, restaurants, cafes and drinking establishments. In 2020-21 this scheme was expanded by removing the rateable value limit and extending the categories to include:
- as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues,
- for assembly and leisure; or
- as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
Eligibility
Eligibility to relief under this section will only be considered after determination of any other forms of rate relief to which the applicant may be eligible.
Relief may be granted where:
- the property is both occupied and trading
Applications
This relief will automatically be awarded to eligible ratepayers.
From 2021/22 businesses may choose to opt out of this support by providing billing authorities notification of their request to refuse support, per eligible hereditament.
Duration
100% relief may be awarded from 1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021.
100% relief may be awarded from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021
66% relief may be awarded from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 (with a.cash cap of £2m for businesses that were required to close as at 5 January 2021, and up to £105,000 for business permitted to open at that date).