Business Rates

Business Rates reliefs and discounts

Some properties are eligible for discounts on their Business Rates. This is called ‘Business Rates relief’.

Unoccupied property

General, you don't pay Business Rates for the first three months that a property is empty, or the first six months for an industrial property. After that, if the rateable value is over £2,900, full rates are payable. Listed buildings and properties with rateable values of less than £2,900, pay no empty property rates until reoccupied.

Reliefs for partly occupied property

If a property is partly occupied for a short time, we may be able to give a relief for the unoccupied part.

Reliefs for small businesses

Small Business Rate Relief is a rate relief scheme to help small businesses who do not receive any of the other rate reliefs available.

Reliefs for charities and non-profit making organisations

Charities and registered Community Amateur Sports clubs are entitled to an 80% relief on property that is mainly used for charitable purposes. We can use our discretion to give a further relief on the remaining bill.

Discounts for local newspapers

The Government is providing funding so that we can offer discounts on office space occupied by local newspapers.

Local discounts

We have some general powers to grant discretionary discounts.

Hardship relief

We can give hardship relief in specific circumstances.

Rural rate relief

Certain properties in a rural settlement can get help with their business rates. A rural settlement is a settlement with a population of no more than 3,000, which is wholly or partly within a Council's area.

Discounts for retail properties

Expanded Retail Discount

At the Budget on 17 November 2022, the Chancellor announced that eligible ratepayers will receive 75% relief on their business rates bills for the year 2023/24 up to a maximum cash cap of £110,000.

Relief will be provided to eligible occupied retail, hospitality and leisure properties in 2023/24. Your current rates bill may include this discount.

Read the Government guidance for the 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme

The guidance gives details about how the scheme operates and which types of business are eligible.

There is more information on business rates retail discounts on the Gov.UK website.

For further information about any of the discounts listed, download our Business Rates explanatory notes or contact pendle.nndr@pendle.gov.uk