Reliefs and Exemptions

Improvement Relief

You might get improvement relief if you make certain improvements to your property. If you're eligible, you'll get the relief for one year. It starts from when you complete your improvements.

Eligibility

Any improvements you make must:

increase the rateable value of your property
be completed on or after 1 April 2024

They must also either:

increase the size of your property
add new features or equipment to your property, such as heating, air conditioning or CCTV

Any improvements to existing features or equipment do not qualify.

You must have occupied the property during and after the improvement works to get improvement relief. You cannot pass on your improvement relief to anybody else.

You do not need to apply for improvement relief or do anything differently. If you meet the necessary requirements, your council will apply the relief to your bills.

You can find out more about which improvements are eligible at GOV.UK at the following link: Business Rates Improvement Relief

If you have questions about a certificate of qualifying works, please contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) at the email address on your certificate. Please note that the VOA cannot answer queries about the occupation condition or your business rates bill.