/ Business rates guide
Small business rates relief: who qualifies and how to claim
Relief is the fastest way to cut a rates bill, because it does not require you to argue with the Valuation Office about the underlying valuation. It is also the easiest thing to lose quietly after a move, a revaluation or a change of occupier.
Guide reviewed September 2026 · Business-Utility.com
The thresholds in England
In England, a property with a rateable value below £12,000 can attract 100% small business rates relief. Between £12,000 and £15,000 the relief tapers down on a sliding scale until it reaches zero. Above £15,000 the small business scheme no longer applies, although the smaller multiplier may still be used for properties below the higher threshold. The rules and thresholds are set out on GOV.UK.
- Under £12,000 rateable value — full relief available
- £12,000 to £15,000 — tapered relief, reducing as the value rises
- Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate schemes with different thresholds
The multiple-property trap
The relief is designed for businesses occupying a single property. Taking a second unit — even a small storage space — can end eligibility on the main one. There are limited allowances for additional properties with low rateable values, and a period of grace when you first take on a second property, so never assume you are disqualified without checking with your council.
Other reliefs worth checking on the same bill
Small business relief is only one of several. Depending on what you do and where you are, one of these may apply instead of, or alongside, it.
- Retail, hospitality and leisure relief, where a scheme is running for the year
- Charitable rate relief for registered charities and community amateur sports clubs
- Rural rate relief for the last shop, pub, post office or petrol station in a qualifying settlement
- Empty property relief for a period after a property becomes vacant
- Hardship relief, at the council's discretion, where paying in full would threaten the business
- Transitional arrangements limiting how fast a bill rises after a revaluation
How to check your bill and claim what is missing
Take your latest demand notice and find the line showing relief applied. If there is none and your rateable value sits under the threshold, contact the council's business rates team in writing, state the property reference and the period you believe was missed, and ask them to apply and backdate the relief. Keep the correspondence — backdated credits are usually applied to the account rather than refunded automatically.
- Find the rateable value on your bill and confirm it against the rating list
- Check whether any relief line appears at all
- Write to the council quoting the property reference and the periods concerned
- Ask for the calculation in writing so you can verify the taper
When relief is not the answer
If your rateable value sits just above a threshold, the more valuable route is often to check whether the valuation itself is correct — an overstated floor area can push a property over £15,000 that should sit below it. Start with our rateable value check guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What rateable value qualifies for small business rates relief in England?
- In England, properties with a rateable value below £12,000 can receive 100% small business rates relief, and relief tapers gradually to zero between £12,000 and £15,000. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own separate schemes.
- Can I claim relief on more than one property?
- Generally the relief applies to a single property. There are limited circumstances where additional properties with low rateable values do not disqualify you, so check the rules with your council before assuming you are ineligible.
- Do I have to apply, or is it automatic?
- Small business rates relief is applied by your local council, and many apply it automatically — but not always, particularly after a move, a change of occupier or a revaluation. It is worth checking your bill explicitly shows the relief.
- Can relief be backdated?
- Councils can often backdate relief where you were eligible but it was not applied. Ask your council's business rates team in writing and quote the period you believe was missed.
Not sure which reliefs you should be getting?
Send us your latest rates demand and the property address. We'll tell you which reliefs apply, whether anything has been missed, and whether the underlying valuation is worth challenging.
Request a rates review