Apply for business rates reduction and relief

There are several different circumstances in which business rate reductions or relief apply.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme

At the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022 the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new business rates relief scheme for retail, hospitality and leisure properties worth around £2.1 billion in 2023/24. This will support the businesses that make our high streets and town centres a success, and help them to evolve and adapt to changing consumer demands.

The 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme will provide eligible, occupied, retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a 75% relief, up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business.

For businesses affected by these discounts, your business rates bill has been issued with the discount applied for the full year to 31 March 2024. Any resulting liability will be payable by instalments from April 2023 as this is the first date that a liability and payments become due.

If your business has received its business rates bill, and you have not had the discount applied but you believe you may be eligible, please complete online form.

Apply for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme.

Should you not wish to receive these discounts, perhaps due to the potential for breaching the monetary cap as highlighted above, please download and complete the Expanded Retail Discount refusal form(PDF 548KB), or contact us by email at businessrates@lambeth.gov.uk. The discount will then be removed, and a revised bill issued.

These changes will have effect for 2023/24 only.

Excluded from this relief

Businesses that are being used for the provision of the following services to visiting members of the public:

  • financial services (for example banks, building societies, cash points, bureaux de change, short-term loan providers, betting shops)
  • medical services (for example vets, dentists, doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors)
  • professional services (for example solicitors, accountants, insurance agents/ financial advisers, employment agencies, estate agents, letting agents)
  • post office sorting offices

Businesses that are not reasonably accessible to visiting members of the public.

View GOV.UK guidance on the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme 2023/24.