Rate relief for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors

The government have provided support for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Rate Relief Scheme

This is a new rate relief scheme to support businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

The retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief scheme applies for the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 and 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, for properties that are occupied and wholly and 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

For detailed information on retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief, including a full list of eligible properties, please refer to our scheme below.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief scheme (PDF) [147KB]

The rate relief is 50% of the business rates that would otherwise be payable for the 2022/23 financial year and 75% of the business rates that would otherwise be payable for the 2023/24 financial year, subject to the following cash caps and subsidy rules:

Cash Cap

The maximum amount of retail, hospitality and leisure rates relief a ratepayer can receive across all of their business properties is subject to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per annum. The cash cap applies at a group company/organisation level, so holding companies and subsidiaries cannot claim the cash cap for each company.

Subsidy

The retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief scheme is regarded as a subsidy and subject to the UK's domestic and international subsidy control obligations.

For the 2022/23 financial year, the subsidy limit under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance threshold is £343,000 per beneficiary over a 3-year period, 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023. Covid business grants received from New Forest District Council, and from any other local authorities, count towards the £343,000 limit as well as any other subsidy claimed under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance limit over the 3-year period.

For the 2023/24 financial year, the subsidy limit under the Minimal Financial Assistance threshold is £315,000 per beneficiary over the 3-year period, 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024.

There is guidance for businesses on subsidy for the 2022/23 financial year and for the 2023/24 financial year.

To apply for retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief use the online form below. Applications for rate relief for the 2022/23 financial year must be made by 30 September 2023, and for the 2023/24 financial year, by 30 September 2024.

Apply for retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief