Rate Relief for Businesses in Rural Areas
Government policy has been to provide 100% relief to certain rural properties which provide vital services to small local communities, such as general stores and post offices. Legislation previously provided for a statutory relief of 50% with the other 50% of relief being delivered via a discretionary relief scheme.
Certain types of properties in a rural settlement with a population below 3,000 may be entitled to full relief. The property must be the only general store, the only post office or a food shop and have a rateable value of less than £8,500, or the only public house or the only petrol station and have a rateable value of less than £12,500. The property must be occupied.