- local authorities will be fully compensated
- part of a business rates holiday introduced from 1
April 2020
Estate agents, lettings agencies and bingo halls that have
closed as a result of Covid-19 measures to restrict the
spread of the virus will be now be exempted from business
rates in 2020-21.
This measure comes after the Chancellor announced in the
Budget that, in response to Covid-19, the business rates
retail discount would be increased to 100% next year and
would be expanded to the hospitality and leisure sectors.
Today the government has announced that some of the
exclusions for this relief have been removed, so that
retail, leisure, and hospitality properties that have
closed as a result of the Covid-19 restriction measures
will now be eligible for the relief.
This will ensure that estate agents, lettings agencies and
bingo halls that are required to close will not pay any
business rates next year.
commented:
We are determined to do whatever it takes to support
businesses during Covid-19, which is why we have extended
business rates relief for the high street.
Today, I am removing some the exclusions for this relief,
so that retail, leisure, and hospitality properties that
have closed as a result of the measures announced by the
Prime Minister in his statement on Monday will now be
eligible for the relief.
This will ensure that estate agents, lettings agencies
and bingo halls that are required to close will not pay
any business rates next year.
Eligible businesses will be rebilled by their local
authority and the new bill will give them the discount of
100%.
If businesses have made payments in the meantime, they will
be refunded by their local authority. We are working with
local authorities to ensure new bills are issued as soon as
possible.
The Devolved Administrations will receive funding under the
Barnett formula to support businesses in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland.
Guidance for local authorities on the application of the
holiday will be published by MHCLG shortly.
Notes
