Small business rate relief is available to reduce business rates bills for some small businesses. 

You won’t pay any business rates on a property with a Rateable Value (RV) of £12,000 or less, if it is the only property which you occupy.

For properties with a rateable value of £12,001 to £15,000, the rate of relief will go down gradually from 100% to 0%.

In general, this relief is only available to businesses who occupy either:

  • one main property with a RV which is less than £15,000 or
  • one main property (with a RV which is less than £15,000) with additional properties where:
    • each additional property has an RV below £2899 and
    • the total RV of all your properties is less than £20,000.

In this instance, relief will only be awarded on your main property.

If you take on an additional property that results in the removal of Small Business Rate Relief, you will receive a three‑year protection period (increased from 12 months from 1 April 2026). This provides you with a grace period to adjust to any increase in your business rates.

If your second property has a rateable value below £2,899, or the combined rateable value of all your properties is less than £20,000, your entitlement to Small Business Rate Relief on your main property will not be affected.

Where possible we will automatically apply small business rate relief, which will be detailed on your bill. If you have not been granted the relief and think you should qualify, please complete the online application. 

Complete our online form to apply for small business rate relief

If you do not qualify for Small Business Rate Relief and your rateable value is below £51,000, your bill will be calculated using either the Small Business Multiplier or, where applicable, the Small Business Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Multiplier.

For further information relating to the new multipliers introduced in 2026/27.

Last updated : 3 March 2026

Please use our online form:

Complete our online form to apply for small business rate relief

Last updated : 12 September 2024