Commercial Business Rates

General Discussion

Is there NRLA member that can provide advice on Business Rates?

We have a small retail shop under a residential flat and sadly the shop went out of business in July 2020 due to Covid. They were in receipt of the 100% discounted Business Rates for retail shops at the time. The Lease was surrendered back to us as Landlord and the shop remained vacant until December 2020, when we eventually found a new commercial Leaseholder. However the local Council are charging full Business Rates for the time the shop was vacant, but have provided the 'empty property relief' for the initial 3 month period the shop was empty. However they have said that there was no provision made during the pandemic for empty properties, only those forced to close by government order.

As a landlord, this seams very unfair in that, we not only lose all rental income and suffer the legal costs, etc of the shop going bust, but we are now liable for the full business rates (after the 3 month allowance). Had the shop struggled on, no Business Rates would have been charged. 100% discounted Business Rates were applied for the new business when they opened for the remainder of the financial year and 1st few months of this year. Do you know if this is correct or if there is any way this can be appealed? Many thanks.