Rural Settlement Rate Relief

Business rate relief is available for certain qualifying businesses that are situated in a "rural settlement". These are settlements with populations of 3,000 or fewer inhabitants. There are 76 Rural Settlement areas within East Devon.

Qualifying Businesses

Post Offices, general stores, food shops, petrol filling stations and public houses can qualify for 50% mandatory rate relief if they are situated in a rural settlement and fulfil certain other conditions.

One of the main conditions relates to the rateable value of the business (less than £8,500 for post offices, food shops and general stores and less than £12,500 for petrol filling stations and public houses). They must also be the only such outlet in the village (except in the case of food shops).

The Council also has the discretion to remit all or part of the business rates on other businesses in any settlement area, if the rateable value is less than £16,500 and the ratepayer can demonstrate that the business benefits the local community.

If you want to apply for Rural Rate Relief, please fill out the form in full (70KB - 24 March 2010 - PDF Help). and send it back as shown at the top of the form. If you need more information, please phone the Business Rates team on 01395 517445.