Rating Coronavirus and Directors Disqualification Act

This Bill received Royal Assent on the 15th December and has effectively barred Covid-19 as a Material Change of Circumstances for Business Rates Appeals.

Why has this happened? Clearly because the Government were also of the opinion that it was a valid MCC and there was going to be too much tax loss.

In its place the Government are supporting Local Authorities in England to the tune of £1.5bn in reliefs to be offered to qualifying ratepayers.

This new award will not be granted to properties previously benefitting from the Expanded Retail Discount during Covid, so it will exclude all retail (including petrol stations) and hospitality.

Unoccupied properties will be ineligible.

Local Authorities will make their own rules and criteria for distribution.

The award is made in 3 stages, but for any Company successfully negotiating all hurdles, the cap is as high as £2.243m in total.

Full rules can be accessed here

The Act will also apply to Wales, which will issue its own support rules.