Business rates reductions

Small business rates relief

You can apply for small business rate relief if:

• you occupy more than one property, and the 2nd and subsequent properties each have a rateable value of 2,899 or less, and the total rateable value of all your properties is less than 20,000.

What you will get

You are entitled to 100% relief for a sole or main property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less.

For properties with a rateable value between £12,001 and £14,999, the rate or relief will gradually decrease from 100% to 0%.

If you occupy more than one property and meet the eligibility criteria above, Small business rates relief will be awarded on your main property only.

Change of circumstances

You must tell us if:

• you take up an additional property
• the rateable value of another property you use changes.

You must notify us within 28 days of the change taking place.

Extending small business rate relief

The Government has introduced additional support to small businesses.

For those businesses that take on an additional property before 27 November 2025, which would have normally meant the loss of small business rate relief, they will be allowed to keep that relief for a period of 12 months.

For those businesses taking on an additional property on or after 27 November 2025, which would have normally meant the loss of small business rate relief, they will be allowed to keep that relief for a period of 36 months.

Backdating small business rate relief

Small business rate relief can be backdated for a maximum of six years from the date of your application, as long as you have met the qualifying criteria throughout.

How to apply for small business rate relief

To apply, please complete the application form and return it to Derby City Council, Business rates, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS or email business.rates@derby.gov.uk.

Supporting small business (SSB) relief

For further information regarding supporting small business relief, visit our Business rates changes for 2026 page.

Relief for unoccupied and partly occupied properties

Unoccupied properties

You don’t have to pay business rates for properties which have been unoccupied for three months. After this time, most businesses will have to pay full business rates.

From 1 April 2024, all unoccupied properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will have the bill calculated using the small business multiplier.

A property is classed as unoccupied when all the items have been removed (with the exception of fixtures and fittings). If a property is being used for storage purposes, full business rates must be paid.

Some properties are exempt from unoccupied property relief:

• Industrial premises for example warehouses, are exempt for another three months.
• Properties with a rateable value of less than £2,900.
• Nationally listed buildings - until they are reoccupied.
• Companies in liquidation or administration.
• Properties which cannot be occupied by law.
• Personal representation of a deceased person.
• Community amateur sports club buildings - only if the next use will be mostly as a sports club.
• Properties owned by a charity and if when next in use, are likely to be used for charity purposes.

Please email business.rates@derby.gov.uk as soon as your property becomes vacant.

Partly occupied properties

A ratepayer is liable for the full non-domestic rate whether a property is wholly occupied or only partly unoccupied.

Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, in certain cases, we can award relief for any unoccupied part.

Please email business.rates@derby.gov.uk as soon as the partial occupancy begins. We usually inspect the premises to confirm the partial occupancy. We may also request a plan of the premises so that the Valuation Office Agency can accurately apportion the rateable value between the occupied and unoccupied areas.

Charities and registered community amateur sports club relief

Charities and registered community amateur sports clubs can apply for charitable rate relief of up to 80%, if a property is used for charitable purposes.

In some cases, we can give further relief on the remaining 20%.

To apply, please complete the application form and return it to the Business Rates team.

Discretionary relief for non-profit making organisations

In some cases, we can give discretionary relief on properties occupied by non-profit making organisations.

To apply, complete the application form and return it to Derby City Council, Business Rates, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS or email business.rates@derby.gov.uk.

For further information on how to apply, see our Business Rates Discretionary Rates Relief Policy‌.

Hardship relief

In exceptional circumstances, we can award hardship relief. Any award has to be shown to be in the interest of local taxpayers as the Council must fund part of the cost of the award.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme

The Government has announced a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief Scheme.

The 2024/25 financial year discount is 75%.

The 2025/26 financial year discount is 40%.

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be wholly or mainly being used:

• as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
• for assembly and leisure
• as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation.

The Government has produced guidance on the types of business that fall within these categories.

More information is available on the GOV.UK website.

How to apply

If you have not received this discount and you think your business may be eligible, email business.rates@derby.gov.uk and include the following information:

• name of ratepayer
• address of premises
• business rates account number
• what the premises are used for
• if the business has already received retail, hospitality and leisure relief on any other premises in England and if it has, also include the address of each property and the amount of relief awarded for each property.

If you have been awarded this relief and wish to refuse it for any reason, for example your business has exceeded the cash cap or have received more subsidy than the MFA threshold, email business.rates@derby.gov.uk and include the following information.

If you refuse relief you cannot subsequently withdraw your refusal for either all or part of the 2024/25 or 2025/26 financial years.

• name of ratepayer
• address of premises
• business rates account number
• amount of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief
• confirmation that you are authorised to sign on behalf of the ratepayer or you are the ratepayer.

For further information regarding pubs and live music venues relief, visit our Business rates changes for 2026 page.