Wrong type of premises?

[motpo]

Hi - I have a business, a limited company that i run from an office which gets small business rate relief. Its rateable value is £1500. I have been in it for over 12 months. I have been told by my council today that as it is classed as "Offices and Premises" I am not entitled to the small business grant of £10,000. Is this correct?

 

[Alison Moore]

that is correct - the cash grants are only for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...bout-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

 

[Alison Moore]

sorry scrap my above comment.

Later down the HMRC page it says:
Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates
The government will provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBRR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.

So I'm not sure and I'll shut up now...

 

[motpo]

Yes I thought the three criteria from that document were

Eligibility
You are eligible if:

• your business is based in England
• you are a business that occupies property
• you are receiving small business rate relief or rural rate relief as of 11 March

All of these apply to me

 

[motpo]

They are saying to me that because it's an office that gets the small business rate relief and not a shop I can't get the £10,000 grant

 

[CVB]

I have a similar situation in Wales. I have applied via a form at Monmouthshire County Council but I am pessimistic I will get anything. Still, I am crossing fingers...

 

[Alison Moore]

I thought that all the grants were only for business in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors: (hence my original comment), but this is the official document from HMRC regarding the grants:

https://assets.publishing.service.g...pitality-grant-guidance-for-businesses-v2.pdf

It sounds like there are two types of grants - Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG), so perhaps the council thought you were applying for the retail grant?

There are posts on here where people have stated they've already got their grants, so it might be worth asking on those posts and see if people with offices have got the grants too.

 

[motpo]

Oh dear sorry to hear you are in the same boat - i was all hopeful when Rishi Sunak said all small businesses that get SBRR would get the grant but it seems that's not the case

 

[motpo]

I tried to argue with them that they might be getting the two types of grant mixed up but they weren't having it

 

[Displaycentreuk]

Apologies if I am hi-jacking this thread but the title is so pertinent to my question.

The government is offering rates support to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Looking through the documentation it seems that a retail business is defined as a shop.

The dictionary definitions of both retail and shop suggests that it would cover any business that sells things for people to use (rather than to sell-on).

Thus I would envisage that many non-high-street operations (eg Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q) will qualify for support and yet it seems unlikely that this would be the government's intention

 

[Mr D]

I tried to argue with them that they might be getting the two types of grant mixed up but they weren't having it

Telling the council they get something wrong?
Heresy!
They'll add you to ze list. The same one Private Pike is on.

Seriously, if you believe you qualify then get in touch with your local councillor. For the sake of £10k money its not worth giving up at the first hurdle.

 

[motpo]

Apologies if I am hi-jacking this thread but the title is so pertinent to my question.

The government is offering rates support to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Looking through the documentation it seems that a retail business is defined as a shop.

The dictionary definitions of both retail and shop suggests that it would cover any business that sells things for people to use (rather than to sell-on).

Thus I would envisage that many non-high-street operations (eg Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q) will qualify for support and yet it seems unlikely that this would be the government's intention

Isn't there a difference though between the £10,000 grant and the £25,000 grant? In that the £25,000 is only for retail, hospitality and leisure over a certain rateable value and the £10,000 grant is for any small business that gets SBRR regardless of sector?

 

[Ally Maxwell]

Apologies if I am hi-jacking this thread but the title is so pertinent to my question.

The government is offering rates support to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Looking through the documentation it seems that a retail business is defined as a shop.

The dictionary definitions of both retail and shop suggests that it would cover any business that sells things for people to use (rather than to sell-on).

Thus I would envisage that many non-high-street operations (eg Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q) will qualify for support and yet it seems unlikely that this would be the government's intention

Premises in receipt of SBBS are small with a low RV (in Scotland the RV must be less than £8K to get the 100% SBBS rate). I don't imagine any of the businesses you list will have premises fitting that criteria, unless B&Q have started opening kiosks.

 

[Mr D]

Apologies if I am hi-jacking this thread but the title is so pertinent to my question.

The government is offering rates support to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Looking through the documentation it seems that a retail business is defined as a shop.

The dictionary definitions of both retail and shop suggests that it would cover any business that sells things for people to use (rather than to sell-on).

Thus I would envisage that many non-high-street operations (eg Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q) will qualify for support and yet it seems unlikely that this would be the government's intention

The high street is often used to refer to any shop on a street. Not just those on the main street in a town or city.

 

[Displaycentreuk]

@Alley Maxwell says 'Premises in receipt of SBBS are small with a low RV (in Scotland the RV must be less than £8K to get the 100% SBBS rate). I don't imagine any of the businesses you list will have premises fitting that criteria, unless B&Q have started opening kiosks.'

But I was referring to 'a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England'. Cant see why this wouldn't include Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q?

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Sorry, only just seen this thread.

Where does a small business receiving rate relief for premises that consist of a showroom and office, used primarily for the retail sale of products online, fit into the equation?

 

[Porky]

It doesn’t, just like our office premises, we can’t get a bloody bean out of the council !

“Slipped through the gaps”

 

[Hunnie]

I hope your council is wrong and you do get the grant
You still have the same rent, electric and water bills to pay as the other businesses and that is what the £10,000 is for.

 

[anonuk]

Your councils are wrong - 100%. There are two types of grant:
1) a SBRR Grant - £10,000 grant available to ANY small business that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 and in receipt of SBRR.

2) a Retail Grant - £10,000 grant available to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 OR £25,000 available to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of more than £15,000 but less than £51,000.

For the Retail Grant, your premises MUST be classified as retail/shop on your business rates bill.

There is ZERO exclusions in the government guidance that stipulates an 'office' premises cannot receive the grant.

In your shoes, I would challenge this with the council, point them in the direction of the government guidance and if needed escalate it to your local MP.

 

[CVB]

Your councils are wrong - 100%. There are two types of grant:
1) a SBRR Grant - £10,000 grant available to ANY small business that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 and in receipt of SBRR.

2) a Retail Grant - £10,000 grant available to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 OR £25,000 available to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses that occupies a business premises in England with a rateable value of more than £15,000 but less than £51,000.

For the Retail Grant, your premises MUST be classified as retail/shop on your business rates bill.

There is ZERO exclusions in the government guidance that stipulates an 'office' premises cannot receive the grant.

In your shoes, I would challenge this with the council, point them in the direction of the government guidance and if needed escalate it to your local MP.

I confirm true! I am an IT consultant in Monmouthshire with a small office in an office building. I have received £10,000 in my business bank account today! In Monmouthshire there was an online form that needed to be done. I then received an email which asked me to confirm certain things (I am not insolvent, I am occupying the premises etc etc). I then got the £10,000 today.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I confirm true! I am an IT consultant in Monmouthshire with a small office in an office building. I have received £10,000 in my business bank account today! In Monmouthshire there was an online form that needed to be done. I then received an email which asked me to confirm certain things (I am not insolvent, I am occupying the premises etc etc). I then got the £10,000 today.

Does the grant have to be paid back?

 

[Mr D]

Does the grant have to be paid back?

Not usually paid back unless turns out breached the terms of the grant.
Would have thought qualifying for it is enough.

 

[kulture]

I would point your council to the following OFFICIAL document
https://assets.publishing.service.g...l_Business_Grant_Fund_and_Retail_guidance.pdf
If you are the ratepayer on March 11th and are getting Small Business Rate Relief then YOU GET £10,000.