The government is providing a Business Rates discount to eligible retail, leisure and hospitality properties that had to close because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

From 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022, an Expanded Retail Discount of up to 66% applies to eligible businesses.

Form 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 eligible businesses will receive a reduction of up to 50%. The discount will only apply between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 and as long as the business meets the qualifying criteria.

The government have set 'caps' for the amount of Business Rates relief a business can receive through the 2021/22 financial year, these are called Cash Caps. 

If your business is part of a larger group, the Cash Cap covers the group structure as a whole, not the individual company.

Relief is usually capped at £105,000 per business. If you needed to close your business because of government guidance issued on 5 January 2021, the relief is capped at £2 million per business.
 

For 2022 the cash cap is set at £110,000 per Ratepayer. This means that a ratepayer (together with any other companies in the same Group) shall not receive more than £110,000 of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme for eligible properties within 2022/23 and shall not receive more than £343,000 in total of Small Amounts of Financial Assistance over three years (including 2022/23).

Expanded Retail Discount is available to eligible properties that are occupied and 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

A full list is of eligible businesses for 2021 is available on the government's website.

A full list is of eligible businesses for 2022 is available on the government's website.

Eligible businesses will need to submit a declaration via grantapproval.co.uk.

If you want to refuse the discount, tell us by emailing rates@crawley.gov.uk.

Businesses will not receive the discount if a declaration has not been submitted.

If you have any questions, email rates@crawley.gov.uk.