Reductions
Advice and support
Our Business Advice and Support page has more information on other types of financial help available.
Empty Property
Business Rates will not be payable for the first three months that a property is empty. After the three month period rates will be charged at 100% unless the property is exempt e.g. Listed buildings, empty properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs. NB. Industrial property will be exempt for 6 months, or has a rateable value of less than the following limits:
- Up to 31 March 2009 RV 2,200
- 01 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 RV 15,000
- 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 RV 18,000
- 01 April 2011 - 31 March 2017 RV 2,600
- From 01 April 2017 RV 2,900
In brief, office and retail premises receive 100% relief for the first three months, and industrial and warehouse premises will receive 100% for the first six months, from when the property becomes empty.
All rate relief for these properties will end after this time and Non Domestic Rates will be chargeable in full. You can find more information about business rates at the My Business Rates website.
Partially Empty Property
If only part of the premises is being used, it may be possible to reduce the amount of business rates that are paid. If you wish to claim this relief you should contact us immediately, and we will arrange for one of our Visiting Officers to visit your premises.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme 2024/25
As per The Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023 the Chancellor announced an extension to the 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief Scheme providing relief of 75% up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business to eligible occupied retail, hospitality and leisure properties in 2024-25.
Business Rates Relief: 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Small Business Rate Relief
- To qualify your property's rateable value must be less than £15,000
- Your business only uses one property - you may still be able to get relief if you use more
Qualifying businesses with a rateable value of £12,000 or below currently get 100% relief. This relief will decrease on a sliding scale for rateable values between £12,000 to £15,000. In addition, such businesses will have their bill calculated using the small business rates non-domestic rates multiplier.
Qualifying businesses with a rateable value between £15,001 - £51,000 will have their bill calculated using the small business rates non-domestic rates multiplier.
If you wish to apply, the please complete the online Application for Small Business Rate Relief
Rural Rate Relief
Businesses in a Rural Settlement could qualify for Mandatory or Discretionary Rural Rate Relief on their Non Domestic Rates bill.
In all cases, the business must be used for purposes which are of benefit to the local community. A list of the areas that are designated Rural Settlements is available on our website or at our shops at Malvern, Tenbury Wells and Upton.
pdf View Rural Settlement list (6 KB)
Mandatory Rural Rate Relief
To qualify for 100% Mandatory Rural Rate Relief, your business premises must:
- Be within the boundaries of a qualifying rural settlement.
- Have a rateable value of not more than £8,500 in the case of a Post Office, general store or food shop.
- Have a rateable value of not more than £12,500 in the case of a public house or petrol filling station.
- Be used in whole or in part, as a general store, Post Office or both, or as a public house, food shop or petrol filling station.
- Be either the only general store, the only Post Office, the only public house or the only petrol filling station in the rural settlement.
Complete the online Mandatory Rural Rate Relief application form
To qualify for Mandatory Relief, the business premises must be the only Post Office, general store, public house or petrol filling station in the rural settlement. Food shops may also qualify for relief and do not need to be the only food shop in the rural settlement.
Please note: if you do not qualify for Mandatory Relief, you may still qualify for Discretionary Relief dependent on meeting certain criteria.
Discretionary Rural Rate Relief
We may grant up to 50% relief to any general store, food shop, Post Office, public house or petrol filling station which does not qualify for the Mandatory Rural Rate Relief.
A business can apply for Discretionary Rural Rate Relief of 50% provided that it:
1. Is within the boundaries of a qualifying rural settlement.
2. Has a rateable value of less than £16,500.
3. Is used for purposes which are of benefit to the local community, and
4. Is reasonable for us to make such a decision having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay Council Tax set by it.
Complete the online Discretionary Rural Rate Relief application form
Charitable and Discretionary Relief
Registered charities, charitable organisations and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC's) are entitled to relief from rates on any non-domestic property, that is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes.
- Relief is given at 80 per cent of the bill. We have the discretion to give a further 20% relief on the remaining bill depending upon what the premises are used for.
- We also have the discretion to give up to 100% discretionary relief on all or part of any rate bill, for property occupied by certain non-profit making organisations for example; sports clubs, societies, village halls and youth associations.
Complete the online Mandatory and Discretionary Rate Relief application form
You can get further information on Rate Relief by visiting the My Business Rates website.
Hardship Relief
Businesses may be entitled to a reduction from rates if they are suffering hardship, and they can show that the local community would suffer a loss if the business was to close. As each case needs to be determined on its merits, please contact us for further information.
Contact
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Don't forget: if you move into, out of, or within Malvern Hills you need to let us know as this will affect your bill. You can also find further information about Business Rates on the Businesslink website.