Business owners may be eligible for reductions in their business rates. The Council provides advice on eligibility for rate reductions and will provide application forms and process applications for reductions.

For more information on the businesses that are eligible for reductions please use the contact details provided below.

Reductions for Properties in the Rural Area

There is bill reduction for:

• Village shops
• Post offices
• Filling stations
• Hotels
• Public houses
• Small food stores in rural communities, which have less than 3000 people living in them

This relief is only available on properties with a rateable value up to a certain level.

Contact us for further details.

Reductions for Stud Farms

There is bill reduction for stud farms with a rateable value of under £7000 which are newly set up on former agricultural property.

Contact us for further details.

Reductions for Businesses: Small Business Bonus Scheme

The rateable value thresholds and bandings of the scheme have been increased to reflect the 2010 Revaluation. The Scheme provides the following relief from 1 April 2010:

*This will allow a business with 2 or more properties with a cumulative rateable value of under £25,000 to qualify for relief at 25% on individual properties with a rateable value of £18,000 or less.

The small business bonus Scheme provides relief to businesses with properties in Scotland of which the combined rateable is £18,000 or less.

In addition, where the cumulative rateable value of a businness's properties falls between £18,000 and £25,000, the Scheme will offer 25% relief to individual properties with a rateable value £18,000 or under.

The exact level of relief therefore depends on:

1. the total rateable value of all subjects occupied by the rate-payer and
2. whether or not the property is eligible for one of the existing non-discretionary rate reliefs.

For further information, go to www.scotland.gov.uk



Reductions for Non-Profit Making Organisations

There is bill reduction up to 80% for properties used by charities. Reduction of all or part of the 20% of the bill is negotiated. This relief is also available to other social, welfare organisations and sports clubs.

Contact us for further details.

Reductions for People with Disabilities

There is bill reduction for properties used for caring for people with disabilities.

Contact us for further details.

Reductions for Unoccupied Property

For the first three months that a property is empty, there are not any rates charged. After three months, there is a 10% bill reduction for empty properties.

Notice: There are not any rates charged for empty industrial properties.

Fresh Start Relief

This relief is available for new occupation of previously unoccupied shops or offices. The scheme is available for a 3 year period from 1 April 2013 and upon application, relief is granted at 50% for a period of 12 months if the following circumstances are all met for the property:

The property has previously been in receipt of empty property relief for a continuous period of at least 12 months, the property has a rateable value of under £45,000 and when last occupied, the property was used as a shop or office (as defined in the Regulations) regardless of what the intended future use is to be OR where there has not been a last use, that the property is intended to be used as a shop or office.

New Start Relief

This relief is available for new build properties entered onto the valuation roll between 1^st April 2013 and 31^st March 2016. Upon application New Start Empty Relief of 100% up to 18 months or until such time as the property becomes occupied may be granted.

To apply for or to receive more information on any of our relief schemes please contact us at the details below.