The Supporting Small Business Relief (SSBR) scheme is designed to help small businesses facing an increase in their rate bills following the 2026 revaluation.
This relief is available to ratepayers who at revaluation are seeing large increases in their bills as a result of losing some or all of their:
- Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief
- 40% Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief, and/or
- 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief.
Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC), who are already entitled to mandatory 80% relief, are not eligible for 2026 SSBR
To support eligible ratepayers, 2026 SSBR will ensure that the increase in the bills of these ratepayers is limited to £800 per year or the relevant caps within transitional relief, whichever is the greater.
For those ratepayers receiving 2023 Supporting Small Business relief on 31st March 2026 (including those also receiving Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief and/or Retail Hospitality & Leisure Relief on 31st March 2026) any eligibility will end on 31st March 2027.
All other eligible ratepayers remain in 2026 SSBR for either 3 years or until they reach the bill they would have paid without the scheme.
A change of ratepayers will not affect eligibility for the Supporting Small Business scheme, but eligibility will be lost if the property falls vacant or becomes occupied by a charity or CASC.
The Council will identify eligible ratepayers and will issue revised bills.
Supporting Small Business Relief is likely to amount to a subsidy. For more information please go to the Business Rates Subsidy Control webpage.