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Business rates improvement relief

Business rates improvement relief

If you make certain improvements to your property you may get relief from higher business rates bills. You do not need to apply for improvement relief or do anything differently. If you meet the necessary requirements, your council will apply the relief to your bills.

You can find out more about which improvements are eligible by going to www.gov.uk and searching ‘business rates reliefs’. If you have questions about a certificate of qualifying works, please contact the Valuation Office Agency at the email address on your certificate. Please note that the Valuation Office Agency cannot answer queries about the occupation condition or about your business rates bill.

Frequently asked questions:

What is improvement relief?

  • Improvement relief supports businesses who have invested in their property
  • It provides relief from higher business rates bills, where the increase in your bill was due to making certain improvements to your property
  • The relief lasts for 12 months from when the improvement works were completed.

Who is eligible for improvement relief? Do I need to apply for it?

  • You do not need to apply for improvement relief or do anything differently
  • Your local council will apply the relief to your bills if you are eligible
  • To be eligible for improvement relief, you must:
    • (a) have qualifying improvement works, and
      (b) meet the occupation condition.
  • For more information, go to www.GOV.UK and search ‘business rates relief’.

How does improvement relief work?

  • You will receive a certificate from the Valuation Office Agency if you have qualifying works. The Valuation Office Agency will give the same information to your local council
  • Your council will apply the relief and send you a revised bill if they are satisfied that you meet the occupation requirements. This means that you have occupied the property during and after the improvement works.

I have received a certificate from the Valuation Office Agency, what does this mean?

  • If you have received a certificate of qualifying works from the Valuation Office Agency, this means that you may be eligible for improvement relief
  • Improvement relief provides relief from higher business rates bills, where the increase in your bill was due to making certain improvements to your property
  • The Valuation Office Agency will send this information to your local council
  • Your local council will apply the relief to your business rates bill if you also meet the occupation condition.

I think my certificate for improvement relief is wrong. Who should I contact?

  • The Valuation Office Agency values qualifying works and issues certificates to rate payers
  • There is no right of appeal against the certified values, however, you should let the Valuation Office Agency know if you think there is something wrong with your certificate
  • You can contact the Valuation Office Agency using the email address on your letter.

Where can I find out more information about improvement relief?

To find out more about improvement relief