To help small businesses there are two main ways to help reduce business rate bills: using a lower multiplier to calculate the bill, and applying a discount to the bill depending on the rateable value. This help is called Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR).
Who can get SBRR
Where the rateable value of the property is £15,000 or less a business is eligible to claim a discount on their rates bill. To qualify for a discount, businesses must contact us and confirm that:
- the sole or main property they occupy must have a rateable value of £15,000 or less and
- if they occupy any additional properties, each of the additional properties must have a rateable value of less than £2,900, and the total rateable value of all of their properties must be less than £28,000.
For businesses with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £50,999 will have their bill calculated on the basis of the small business rate multiplier.
Small Business Rates Relief extension
Relief can continue for another year if you occupy an additional property instead of being lost as normal. We will automatically calculate the relief where there is a continued entitlement.
How the SBRR discount is calculated
Ratepayers who qualify for SBRR discount, will get the following reductions in their business rates bill.
| Rateable value (RV) | Max SBRR | Min SBRR | Sliding scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to £12,000 | 100% | 100% | n/a |
| £12,001 to £15,000 | 100% | 0% | 100% minus 1% for every £30 of RV above £12,000 |
This calculation is for guidance only – please ensure you take independent advice before committing to a lease or other rental agreement on any property.
How other reliefs affect SBRR
Where a property is eligible for charitable relief and small business relief, charitable relief only will apply. Any transitional relief will be applied before any small business rate relief is applied.
How to apply
You need only apply once for SBRR. Providing certain defined circumstances do not change you will not be required to make a further application.
The relief can be granted from the date the property enters the Rating List anytime throughout the year, you can apply for the relief immediately and do not have to wait until the next financial year to apply.
Small business rates relief application
Please email the completed form to business.rates@merton.gov.uk
Reporting changes
You must tell our Business Rate section if certain circumstances change The changes that you must tell us about are:
- taking up occupation of a property they did not occupy at the time of making their application for relief,
- an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by you in another local authority.
If you take up occupation of an additional property that was not included in your original application, you must send a new small business rates relief application.
If there is an increase in the rateable value, you must contact us and give us notice, in writing.
You must report these changes to our Business Rates Team, within four weeks from the day after change take place. If this happens, there will be no interruption to your entitlement to the relief.
Other changes will be picked up by our Business Rate Team from other sources.
Related website
Business Rates Reliefs (GOV.UK website)
Contact us
You can contact us by:
Email: Business.Rates@merton.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8545 3919 between 9am and 1pm.
You can write to us at:
Business Rates
London Borough of Merton
PO Box No 559
Morden
SM4 5ZY
We are no longer able to attend to personal visitors at the Civic Centre.