The retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme for 2024/25 provides eligible, occupied properties with 75% business rates relief. This is up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the discount the premises must:
- be occupied
- be wholly or mainly being used:
- as a shop, including markets, chemists, newsagents, petrol stations and hairdressers
- as a restaurant, cafe, drinking establishment, cinema or live music venue
- for assembly and leisure
- as a hotel, guest and boarding premise, or self-catering accommodation
You won't be eligible for the discount if the premises are being used for:
- the provision of financial services, such as banks, building societies, cash points, bureau de change or short term loan providers
- medical services such as dentists, doctors, vets, osteopaths or chiropractors
- professional services such as solicitors, accountants, insurance agents or financial advisors, employment agencies, estate agents or letting agents
- post office sorting offices
In some cases the discount will automatically be extended to 2024/25 based on your eligibility for the discount in 2023/24.
How to apply
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria but haven't received the discount, you can apply as long as you:
- don't exceed the cash cap
- haven't received an automatic award
You can apply to receive relief for the 2024 to 2025 billing year (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) until 30 September 2025. If you apply after this date, your application will only be considered for relief from 1 April 2025 onwards.
If you don’t want to receive the relief or you exceed the cash cap
You can opt-out of receiving the discount from 2024 to 2025. You'll need to contact us to tell us that that you don't want to receive the discount in relation to the premises.
Your bill refers to any time up to 31 March 2025. If you refuse the discount, it's not possible to withdraw the refusal for all or any part of the discount period later.
You can find out more about the retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme on GOV.UK, including the £110,000 cash cap.
Fraudulent claims
The government and council won't tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain this discount, including claiming support above the cash cap. If you falsely apply for relief, provide false information or make a false representation in order to gain relief, you may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. We undertake checks to protect the council from fraudulent activity.