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 receive small business rate relief on a property and decide to occupy an additional property, which would ordinarily result in the removal of the relief; you will continue to receive this relief on the original property for 12 months. 

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 don’t qualify for small business rate relief and your RV is less than £51,000, your bill will be calculated using the small business multiplier, which is lower than the standard multiplier. The correct multiplier is automatically applied to your bill and therefore, there is no need to apply for the lower value.

  • National non-domestic rating multiplier (49.9p in 2024/2025).
  • Lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier (54.6p in 2024/2025). 

Please use our online form: 

Complete our online form to apply for small business rate relief 

 

Supporting Small Business Scheme

The Supporting Small Business (SSB) Scheme 2026 is designed to limit sharp increases to business rates bills for small businesses that lose certain reliefs after the 2026 revaluation.

It automatically applies if a business loses any of the following:

  • Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR)
  • Rural Rate Relief
  • Retail, Hospitality & Leisure (RHL) Relief
  • 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief

The scheme ensures that your bill will not increase by more than £800 or the relevant transitional relief cap, whichever is higher. 

Example: 

2025/26: 

·       a property with a rateable value of £50,000 has a charge of £24,950

·       The property qualified for 40% RHL relief at 31/03/2026– the final bill was £14,970

 

2026/27:

 ·       the rateable value increases to £110,000

·       With SSB the charge cannot increase by more than £800 or 30% whichever is greater.

·       30% of final bill for 2025/26 is £4,491 which is greater than £800

Therefore, the bill for 2026/27 will be the final bill for 2025/26 £14,970 + £4,491 = £19,461

Do I need to apply?

 We have identified all businesses that meet the qualifying criteria, and this will be reflected on your 2026/27 bill. If you believe you are eligible for this relief, but it does not appear on your bill, please contact the Business Rates Team.

Last updated : 16 February 2026

Please use our online form:

Complete our online form to apply for small business rate relief

Last updated : 12 September 2024