Business rates discounts and reliefs

Exempted buildings

Certain properties are exempt from business rates. You may not have to pay business rates on:

• agricultural land and buildings, including fish farms
• buildings used for training or welfare of disabled people
• buildings registered for public religious worship or church halls

However, there are strict legal requirements for these exemptions. If you think your property should be exempt you should report it to the Valuation Office Agency. 

Empty properties

You do not have to pay business rates on empty buildings for 3 months. After this time, most businesses must pay full business rates.

Some properties can get extended empty property relief:

• industrial premises (for example warehouses) are exempt for a further 3 months
• listed buildings - until they’re reoccupied
• buildings with a rateable value under £2,900 - until they’re re-occupied
• properties owned by charities - only if the property’s next use will be mostly for charitable purposes
• community amateur sports clubs buildings - only if the next use will be mostly as a sports club

If your property becomes empty, or if an empty property becomes occupied you should report that to us.