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Service disruption

Please note that our Council Tax, Business Rates and Benefits self-service portals will be unavailable on Monday 20 May from 7.00am to 10.00am due to planned maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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Relief and Exemptions

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2. Mandatory rate relief for registered charities and sports clubs

Registered charities

Registered charities that are using non-domestic properties for the main purpose or objective of the charity can claim 80% relief from the Business Rates charge, if the required conditions are met. These conditions are:

  • a registered charity or trustees for a registered charity must occupy the property.
  • the property must be used wholly, or mainly, for charitable purposes.

If these conditions are met, the Council has to award this relief.

Download a Mandatory Rate Relief claim form to print off and send it to us or contact us to get a copy.

Return your completed forms to the Business Rates Service .

If the property is empty you can still claim rate relief if, when next in use, the property will be used wholly, or mainly, for charitable purposes. There is 100% relief for empty properties in this situation; claim for this on the Mandatory Rate relief form too.

Sports clubs

Sports clubs can claim 80% relief by applying for Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status. You can do this through the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website (external site).

If the property is empty you can still claim rate relief if, when next in use, it will be used by a CASC. There is 100% relief for an empty property in this situation. Please contact us if this applies to you.