Ratepayers who are not entitled to another mandatory relief will have their bill calculated using the lower small business Non-Domestic Rating multiplier, rather than the Non-Domestic Rating multiplier, if the rateable value does not exceed £51,000.

From 1 April 2017, if the sole or main property is shown on the rating list with a rateable value which does not exceed £15,000, the ratepayer will receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill for this property. The percentage for a property with a rateable value of not more than £12,000 is 100%. For properties between £12,000 and £15,000 the rate of relief will be tapered from 100% to 0%.

This percentage reduction (relief) is only available to ratepayers who occupy either:

• (a) one property, or
• (b) one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed £2,899 the relief is awarded to the main property only

The rateable value of the property mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable value of all the properties mentioned in (b), must not exceed £19,999 outside London or £27,999 in London on each day for which relief is being sought. If the rateable value or aggregate rateable value increases above those levels, relief will cease from the day of the increase.

An application for Small Business Rate Relief is not required. Where a ratepayer meets the eligibility criteria and has not received the relief, they should contact their local authority. Provided the ratepayer continues to satisfy the conditions for relief which apply at the relevant time as regards the property and the ratepayer, they will automatically continue to receive relief in each new valuation period.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by a ratepayer who is in receipt of relief (other changes will be picked up by the local authority). The changes that should be notified are:

• (a) the ratepayer taking up occupation of an additional property
• (b) an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief

Historically Ratepayers receiving Small Business Rate Relief who took on an additional property would continue to receive the existing relief for a further 12 months.

From 27.11.2025 a business receiving Small Business Rates Relief and takes on an additional property, will continue to receive Small Business Rates Relief on their original property for 3 years.

Before 27.11.2025 the relief will continue on their original property for 12 months.

Apply for Small Business Rates Relief

For further information, please contact Revenues:

• Email: ndr@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01789 260993
• Fax: 01789 260969