Rate relief
If you believe you will qualify for one of these reductions and it is not showing on your bill please contact us on 01594 812532.
Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Relief Scheme
From 1 April 2026, the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief schemes have been replaced by Retail, Hospitality or Leisure multipliers. Therefore, eligible Ratepayers will not see a reduction on their bill for relief, but their Business Rates will have been calculated using the new multipliers.
Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief
A new Pubs and Live Music Venues relief has been introduced. Those eligible will benefit from a 15% relief on top of other support.
More information is available at Pubs & Live Music Relief 2026/27
Small business rate relief
Many businesses with rateable values below £12,000 will pay nothing. Those with rateable values between £12,001 and £14,999 will receive relief on a sliding scale. Businesses with a rateable value below £51,000 will benefit from having their charge calculated using the small business rate multiplier.
Businesses that take on a second property will now keep their Small Business Rates Relief on their first property for three years instead of just one year.
Supporting Small Business Rates Relief
Supporting Small Business Relief (SSBR) is available to help those ratepayers who at the revaluation are seeing large increases in their bills as a result of losing some or all of their:
- Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief,
- Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief, and/or
- 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief.
These accounts will see their bill capped to how much it can go up by, with it being either £800 or the percentage caps listed in the table below - whichever is greater.
| Rateable Value | Percentage |
| RV up to £20,000 | 5% |
| RV between £20,001 and £100,000 | 15% |
| RV over £100,000 | 30% |
More information can be found at the following locations:
Business rates relief: Supporting small business relief - GOV.UK
Business Rates Relief: 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief, local authority guidance - GOV.UK
Rate relief for rural businesses
Certain types of business in rural settlements with a population below 3,000 may qualify for mandatory rural rate relief. To qualify the property must be occupied and be the only:
- general store or post office with a rateable value of less than £8,500
- public house or petrol filling station with a rateable value of less than £12,500
- food shop with a rateable value of less than £8,500
Charity and registered Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) relief
Charities and registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs are entitled to 80% relief where the property is occupied by the charity or club and is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes or as a registered community amateur sports club. The council has discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill.
To register as a CASC visit the HM Revenues and Customs website or call 0845 302 0203.
