Apply for a business rate reduction

There are a number of ways to reduce how much you pay for your business rates. You can apply for hardship, discretionary, unoccupied property and small business rate reductions.

Unoccupied properties business rates relief

There are 2 types of property occupancy relief.

Unoccupied property rating

You don't have to pay business rates for the first 3 months that a property is empty. For certain industrial property this period extends to 6 months.

After that, most empty property will be liable for 100% of the basic occupied business rate. If the 3 or 6 month empty period has already been granted, you will have to pay full business rates.

Exempt properties

Some unoccupied properties remain exempt from paying business rates even after the 3 or 6 month period expires. These include:

  • properties with a rateable value of less than £2,899 from 1 April 2017
  • listed buildings
  • properties where occupation is prohibited by law
  • properties where the owner is bankrupt or the company is subject to a winding up order or is in administration

Charities

There are special rules for properties used by a charity. For more details contact the Business Rates team.

Partly occupied property relief

You have to pay the full business rate if a property is wholly or only partly occupied. Where a property is partly occupied for a short time, we have discretion to award relief in respect of the unoccupied part. For more details contact the Business Rates team. 

Contact the Business Rates team

Telephone: 020 8726 7000, option 4.

Email: croynndr@croydon.gov.uk

Business Rates team
Croydon Council
5th floor, Bernard Weatherill House
8 Mint Walk
Croydon CR0 1EA