Anyone got the 10k business Rates relief grant yet?
- Thread starter Lomaximus
- Start date
I had an email from South Ribble on Monday evening saying that our business name had now been updated on our business rates account and asked me to resubmit a fresh application, so I did that on Monday evening. It’s almost funny to think I might be able to apply to a brand new loan scheme and get the cash in the bank before getting approved for a grant we applied for back in March.
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We applied fot the small bussines grant fund and the application has failed "because your business is not identified as a qualifying business type as defined in the Government’s guidance."
We didnt applied the hospitality etc grant.
Our rateble value 12500 and we receiving the small bussiness rate releife which is criteria of the sbgf. Any idea why we were refused?
We didnt applied the hospitality etc grant.
Our rateble value 12500 and we receiving the small bussiness rate releife which is criteria of the sbgf. Any idea why we were refused?
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Based on the information given, it sounds to me like the council have got that wrong. Worth getting in touch to clarify.
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We have finally received our grant. Went in our bank tonight dated tomorrow.
I would say your council have misunderstood the criteria. From reading the many posts on here, it seems quite common that some councils are declining any business that does not fall into the 'retail, hospitality and leisure' category.
Your best bet would be to email them explaining that your application is in relation to the Small Business Grant and not the Retail Grant. If possible I would also provide them with a link to the gov.uk website that shows the grant covers ANY business in receipt of SBRR.
I would say your council have misunderstood the criteria. From reading the many posts on here, it seems quite common that some councils are declining any business that does not fall into the 'retail, hospitality and leisure' category.
Your best bet would be to email them explaining that your application is in relation to the Small Business Grant and not the Retail Grant. If possible I would also provide them with a link to the gov.uk website that shows the grant covers ANY business in receipt of SBRR.
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We are a small family business with 9 employees and a rateable value of £32500 for our factory, on which we pay the Small Business Rate Relief figure of 49.9p in the £. After reading the government guidance it appeared that we should be able to get the Small Business Grant Fund.(no mention of the £15000 RV) We cannot, as we get the wrong sort of SBRR for businesses up to £510000 according to Wolverhampton City Council who said it was only for businesses up to SBRR £15000 RV threshold. I can't help but feel frustrated that we are falling through the cracks. A customer of mine who has an office in a garden centre and who employs his wife, has just received the £10000 grant. The retail grant is tiered so why isn't the small business the same ?
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The small business rate relief is tiered but only up to £15,000. If your rateable value is £15,001 or above you don’t qualify for ANY small business rate relief unfortunately.
While I know it’s not ideal for everyone, I think the main hope for the bounce back loan is that it will plug the gaps that exist at present.
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for £15K to £51K bracket you have to be in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Sector to get the Grant funding.
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That was my council's opening gambit to me, and of course it wasn't correct. Since then my form has gone missing off the server, ended up in the wrong pile, and I've submitted a bank statement 3 times... Finally got confirmation today it should be going into my account in the next couple of days.
The 49.9p in the £ is not small business rate relief - It is the small business rates multiplier. That number is multiplied by your rateable value to work out what your rates payment is. Small business rates relief is something different that takes that number resulting from the rate multiplier and applies a further discount on a sliding scale (called taper relief I believe) or full rate relief for the smallest properties. Your rateable value is well above the level for either of those rate reliefs.
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I am Secretary of a social club which I do on a part-time basis. Our local council is Waverley Borough Council in Surrey. I applied for the £10K grant as soon as the online claim facility was running. The cash was in the Club's account in 10 days. Whether it's going to be enough to keep the business going is anybody's guess at the moment. The hospitality industry is being decimated...
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That’s great news some councils seem to be quicker than others
my friend who runs her business from home, was able to secure the 10k grant, she received her money within 5 days of applying It was in her account
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E
Express_Couriers
I just got off the phone with my council who said we are not eligible for a grant as we are a self storage company and the grant is only applicable to those who own a shop that would be on the high street. However I have spoken to other companies in the area who have received their grants including a garage and a removals company.
Should we be eligible? Seems unjustly if we are not
Should we be eligible? Seems unjustly if we are not
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I would say as long as you registered for business rates yes. people I know have gotten it and they just use unit for storage, they get business rates relief, but someone who occupies a nearby site there rent included business rates so they didn’t get it
others maybe better to advise you but I can’t see why you can’t get it, up in Sunderland councils seem to be giving out grants very easy without fuss
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Your council are 1000% wrong. As long as you have a business premises and were in receipt of SBRR with a rateable value of less than £15,000 on 11th March 2020, you are eligible for the grant.
I would ring them again and ask them to check the guidance from gov.uk and advise that it is the small business grant you are applying for and NOT the retail & hospitality grant.
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1000% is a bit strong when @Express_Couriers haven’t mentioned the rateable value or if they are in receipt of SBRR....
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Hi all
Possible good news if you recently got rejected for the grant because you fell through the gaps in the scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
No guarantee and as per usual the exact details are “to follow shortly” but it looks like the council might shortly be in a position to grant you £10k, £25k or some other amount.
Fellow rejected applicants, we can all live in hope?
Possible good news if you recently got rejected for the grant because you fell through the gaps in the scheme:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
No guarantee and as per usual the exact details are “to follow shortly” but it looks like the council might shortly be in a position to grant you £10k, £25k or some other amount.
Fellow rejected applicants, we can all live in hope?
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Unfortunately nothing yet. We have had no emails and no money. I am just hoping we see something tomorrow or Wednesday. Landlord is going bananas wanting his money - plus a load of people that cancelled on us now wanting refunds.
Bills aren't getting paid - phone, electricity, water etc
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Mine finally arrived, a month and 2 days after completing the form initially. Norwich aren't exactly covering themselves in glory here given that there were no ambiguities or issues with the application, just systems failings all along the way. Sounds like other areas did much better.
Fingers crossed for you, as having to justify your COVID related shortfall, and this being at the discretion of councils that haven't all exactly got full marks with respect to the current schemes, I feel more than a little luck will be needed in this lottery...
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UPDATE:
This is becoming somewhat of a joke at this stage.
1. We applied on the 27th March
2. It took numerous enquiries to be told exactly one month later on 27th April that the application had failed and we would need to apply in a different name. The form asks for trading name which is what we initially provided, the council stated we should provide the company reg name.
3. We reapplied on the 27th and sent an email to state such at that time.
4. It's now over 10 days since we re-applied and despite requests for info our emails are going ignored.
I just don't know what to do. It's not like I can speak to anyone.
This is becoming somewhat of a joke at this stage.
1. We applied on the 27th March
2. It took numerous enquiries to be told exactly one month later on 27th April that the application had failed and we would need to apply in a different name. The form asks for trading name which is what we initially provided, the council stated we should provide the company reg name.
3. We reapplied on the 27th and sent an email to state such at that time.
4. It's now over 10 days since we re-applied and despite requests for info our emails are going ignored.
I just don't know what to do. It's not like I can speak to anyone.
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Hi
Imo what’s happening is they see your email but it’s not urgent, well to them anyway, so put you on the “to do” pile. This is what I would do:-
I would contact your local MP for the area, you will likely get a canned answer back but do it anyway, putting out you need this grant from their council, then email the council again cc the local MP in and say in your email to the council you need this grant and have raised it with x the local MP and to treat as urgent.
Not saying it will work but it’s amazing how quick they can work if they think the decision and speed of process could be later called into question. Worth a try anyway.
Other than that, it’s a tough one as you are dealing with faceless people, they hide behind email and when they do communicate often don’t put their names - can you imagine running your own business like that!
Good luck
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You have to bear in mind the councils are really busy at present. I can't see the point in doing what Porky said. If you have applied again then they should have the application (and hopefully you have an acknowledgement of it). The applications are generally being dealt with on a date received basis. With some applications more information is required, people/companies aren't the ratepayer as at 11 March 2020, there can be all sorts of things to chase up on plus certain checks are being made to help protect against fraudulent claims. So do bear with them. When more information is required people are ringing/emailing the applicant so they have a contact (and names are obviously given out).
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I think the OP has to do what they think is right. At all stages I practiced forbearance, but following the information above would have seen me not getting paid out twice.
In my case there was a systems failure with applications resulting in them not having my application inspite of confirmation email received (2 weeks delay til I chased it up). The person who then took on my case filed it incorrectly and it would have never been paid (2 weeks again waited until chasing). I then had to provide my bank statements for a 3rd time as the first two were missing from their systems... and then they were paid by BACs about 5 days after submission of the bank statement for the final time.
I'm certainly not complaining, as the money is a valuable injection to the firm and in my case at least it was possible to speak to the council. The website eventually posted a number which went straight to the revenues team and they would answer it and transfer or take ownership. However, there are many reasons why you may hear nothing from them aside from "we're really busy processing applications and yours is in the queue" and several of those reasons will need you to assert positive action or never see it arrive...
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Bit of a Monday update:
We finally have heard back from the council and this is what they said:
We finally have heard back from the council and this is what they said:
Thank you for your message. I have checked with the verification team as to why your resubmitted claim has not been processed for payment. Unfortunately your claim was rejected as they deemed it as a duplicate application
I have explained that your previous claim was rejected and therefore your new claim should have been accepted!
I have the verification teams assurance that if you resubmit your application form today it will be processed without delay, as they have now removed the duplicate tracker on your grant reference number.
I really do apologise for any inconvenience caused.
As I said last week, it's pretty much a farce at this point. I have already applied twice and now they want me to reapply a 3rd time. No doubt it will be another two weeks if at all.I have explained that your previous claim was rejected and therefore your new claim should have been accepted!
I have the verification teams assurance that if you resubmit your application form today it will be processed without delay, as they have now removed the duplicate tracker on your grant reference number.
I really do apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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Well that's some news at least. When South Ribble asked me to re-apply, I had the funds in our bank account within 3 or 4 days so hoping you get the same result.
What I did was re-applied, then emailed the lady that was dealing with me to let her know and included the new claim reference number.
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That does seem a bit of a farce. We would just have done it on the 2nd one. I guess it also depends on the staff dealing with it, if they have a bit of savvy it should have gone through really. It seems different councils are doing things slightly differently. Hopefully you should get it this time though.
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COUNCIL GRANT UPDATE
Local councils will be putting up an application form shortly on their websites for grant applications from an extended discretionary fund.
However, it looks like many of us will still fall through the gaps. It might help some of us. The wording directly from HMG says:-
We are asking Local Authorities to prioritise the following types of businesses for grants from within this funding pot:
1. Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment;
2. Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;
3. Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
4. Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
The list set out above is not intended to be exhaustive, but is intended to guide Local Authorities as to the types of business that the Government considers should be a priority for the scheme. Authorities should determine for themselves whether particular situations not listed are broadly similar in nature to those above and, if so, whether they should be eligible for grants from this discretionary fund.
I have written to Robert Jenrick in Westminster for what its worth to include online retail, b2b business and office business that currently fall through the gaps of the current scheme. It seams crazy to me to award a £10k grant to a one man band whilst knocking back a small business employing 20
Oh and apparently some councils have only used 40% of the funding they have available!!
Local councils will be putting up an application form shortly on their websites for grant applications from an extended discretionary fund.
However, it looks like many of us will still fall through the gaps. It might help some of us. The wording directly from HMG says:-
We are asking Local Authorities to prioritise the following types of businesses for grants from within this funding pot:
1. Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could include units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment;
2. Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;
3. Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
4. Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
The list set out above is not intended to be exhaustive, but is intended to guide Local Authorities as to the types of business that the Government considers should be a priority for the scheme. Authorities should determine for themselves whether particular situations not listed are broadly similar in nature to those above and, if so, whether they should be eligible for grants from this discretionary fund.
I have written to Robert Jenrick in Westminster for what its worth to include online retail, b2b business and office business that currently fall through the gaps of the current scheme. It seams crazy to me to award a £10k grant to a one man band whilst knocking back a small business employing 20
Oh and apparently some councils have only used 40% of the funding they have available!!
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Thank you. We asked them to review and got a reply:
"Unfortunately, the premises does not qualify for the Small Business Grant Fund as the rateable exceeds £15,000 and is currently £23,750."
But our bussines rate letter shows the following: With suplement - Rateable value: 23750.00 multiplier: 0.5120 Amount: 12610.00
We paying 12610/year. This os because the small bussines relief. Which is one of thereuirements of the 10k small bussines grant.
They also offered to check th the status pf hospitality type of our bussines. Asking photo evidence of visitable customer area etc.
We are much worst situation than hospitality bussineses because we install furnitures in residental homes so the customers asked much earlier to stop visit their homes than the offical lockdown
One more weird thing. The bussines rate officer saying our premises notoccupied, but we paying bussines rate for 3 years now and asking evidence of the start date just after they sent this year br letter
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Unfortunately I fear you're perhaps not understanding the business rates bill properly.Thank you. We asked them to review and got a reply:
"Unfortunately, the premises does not qualify for the Small Business Grant Fund as the rateable exceeds £15,000 and is currently £23,750."
But our bussines rate letter shows the following: With suplement - Rateable value: 23750.00 multiplier: 0.5120 Amount: 12610.00
We paying 12610/year. This os because the small bussines relief. Which is one of thereuirements of the 10k small bussines grant.
They also offered to check th the status pf hospitality type of our bussines. Asking photo evidence of visitable customer area etc.
We are much worst situation than hospitality bussineses because we install furnitures in residental homes so the customers asked much earlier to stop visit their homes than the offical lockdown
One more weird thing. The bussines rate officer saying our premises notoccupied, but we paying bussines rate for 3 years now and asking evidence of the start date just after they sent this year br letter
From what I understand you are not in receipt of small business rates relief...
What you are seeing on your business rates bill should be the "small business rates mutliplier", which is applied to any property under RV of £51,000.
The Small business rate relief is applied wholly to properties under £12,000 RV, and on a sliding scale between £12,000 and 15,000.
Unfortunately the two are completely different things.
The Rateable Value is the Rateable value listed at £23750. This grant isn't targeted at properties with as high RV as yours.
For what it is worth I don't understand why your bill would be calculated at the 51.2p in the pound rate as that is supposed to be used for properties over £51,000 (the small business rate multiplier is 49.9p in the pound). Might be worth checking with the council or accountant as to why that is. Perhaps related to the supplement mentioned.
Can't help on the Not occupied thing; bear in mind though rates are still broadly payable on unoccupied premises so you could have been paying inspite of the records saying unoccupied. Sounds like when you moved in perhaps they just updated the ratepayer details without updating the occupation status of the property (maybe). But it doesn't seem like correcting the fact your property is recorded as unoccupied will be helpful unless you are trying to access the other scheme which is the Retail and Hospitality grant. That has a £25000 grant available for larger properties but unlike the Small Business Grant it only applies to a narrow sector of businesses in retail and hospitality.
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Thank you. We asked them to review and got a reply:
"Unfortunately, the premises does not qualify for the Small Business Grant Fund as the rateable exceeds £15,000 and is currently £23,750."
But our bussines rate letter shows the following: With suplement - Rateable value: 23750.00 multiplier: 0.5120 Amount: 12610.00
We paying 12610/year. This os because the small bussines relief. Which is one of thereuirements of the 10k small bussines grant.
They also offered to check th the status pf hospitality type of our bussines. Asking photo evidence of visitable customer area etc.
We are much worst situation than hospitality bussineses because we install furnitures in residental homes so the customers asked much earlier to stop visit their homes than the offical lockdown
One more weird thing. The bussines rate officer saying our premises notoccupied, but we paying bussines rate for 3 years now and asking evidence of the start date just after they sent this year br letter
Jimbof covers most things here. What exactly is the nature of your business? And re the unoccupied bit, just send them a copy of your tenancy agreement. It sounds like it was classed as empty at one stage and it hasn't been updated.
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