The Business Rates team at Roger Hannah have been busy advising concerned clients and occupiers within the industrial, retail and office sectors as the ongoing Coronavirus Emergency develops and a countrywide lockdown of the UK and business continues.
Our team can assist clients with applications for empty rates and Section 44A relief amongst other measures, in a bid to help firms safeguard themselves.
The Government have recently introduced a number of initiatives and there has been a lot of reassurance for those within the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors; however, we have had a lot of concerned calls from clients working within the office and industrial sectors regarding their position. The Government have today extended 100% rates relief to Estate and Letting Agents and Bingo halls, and this comes as a welcome relief to those hard-hit sectors.
Roger Hannah are able to offer guidance, support and assist businesses in developing a strategy to mitigate their rates liabilities. This ranges from helping apply for Empty Rates Relief, where business may be entitled to either three months relief for empty offices and retail premises or up to six months for industrial and warehouse properties. We can help develop a strategy to provide support with re-occupation periods, should it be necessary.
Other options available to businesses are Hardship Relief for those who have been thrown into extreme financial difficulties by the outbreak and Section 44A relief for those who are currently unable to work to capacity and have had to scale back their operations as a result by reducing the floor area of the property in business use. While this is a discretionary relief decided by local authorities, in light of the current situation, we’re hoping councils will be receptive to applications for help
Our dedicated Business Rates Team has the specialist skills and experience to deal with all aspect Rating work.
For further information and advice, please contact Demetri Papaioannou at de******@ro**********.uk or Mark Keirl at ma*******@ro**********.uk.