Help available for business rates

The Back in Business rate support scheme has been created to incentivise business ratepayers to consider occupying empty retail premises when looking for a business property.

Eligibility

To benefit from the scheme you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• you have begun occupation of business premises on or after 1 April 2024
• the business premises you now occupy were previously unoccupied for a minimum of 12 months prior to the date you occupied the property
• the business premises were previously valued for rates and used for retail purposes; or
• if premises were never occupied you may still be entitled if the premises could reasonably have been used for retail purposes.

Rates discount

The rates discount of 50% is granted for up to 24 months beginning on the day which the retail unit becomes occupied. The rate relief can be applied from 1 April 2024.

How to claim

To apply, you need to complete an online form. If you are the owner or occupier of the applicant business premises, you can complete this at the link below:

Apply for Back in Business rate support

Further information

If you have any queries regarding the scheme, you can contact Land & Property Services (LPS) using one of the following methods:

• Email backinbusiness@finance-ni.gov.uk
• Tel 0300 200 7801 (charged at local rate)