Rate relief for village shops and rural businesses
You can claim 100% rural rate relief if your business trades within areas designated as rural settlements.
We may also remove all of your bill. This is called discretionary rate relief.
Eligibility
- Your business must be in an eligible rural area with a population below 3,000.
- Eligible areas in Kirklees include Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Holme Valley, Kirkburton, Meltham, and other designated rural villages.
Kirklees rural areas
- Bolster Moor
- Scapegoate Hill
- Birdsedge
- Clayton West
- Denby Dale
- Emley
- High Flatts
- Lower Cumberworth
- Scissett
- Upper Cumberworth
- Upper Denby
- Brockholes
- Burnlee
- Cartworth
- Fulstone
- Hade Edge
- Hepworth
- Holmbridge
- Holme
- Jackson Bridge
- Netherthong
- New Mill
- Oldfield
- Scholes
- Thongsbridge
- Totties
- Underbank
- Upperthong
- Wilshaw
- Wooldale
- Farnley Tyas
- Fenay Bridge
- Flockton
- Grange Moor
- Kirkburton
- Lascelles Hall
- Shepley
- Stocksmoor
- Thunderbridge
- Thurstonland
- Upper Heaton
- Blackmoorfoot
- Crosland Edge
- Helme
The following villages are also classed as rural:
- Briestfield
- Castle Hill
- Drub
- East Bierley
- Hartshead
- Hall Bower
- South Crosland
- Upper Hopton
- Whitley
Types of rate relief
There are two types of rate relief, mandatory and discretionary.
Mandatory rate relief
100% reduction if your business:
- is in one of the rural areas listed
- is mainly used as a general store, post office, public house or petrol filling station
- is the only such business in the immediate area
- has a rateable value of less than £8,500 if your business is a general store or post office, or less than £12,500 it's a public house or petrol filling station.
Discretionary rate relief
Up to 100% relief if you don't qualify for mandatory relief.
Your business must:
- have a rateable value of less than £16,500
- provide essential services to the community (e.g., general stores, post offices, doctors, dentists, newsagents, butchers, bakers).
Hot food takeaways do not qualify.
Considerations include:
- the number of your employees living in Kirklees,
- your business profit or loss,
- the proximity to similar businesse
- what additional services you provide to the community,
- your business opening hours.
How to apply for rural rate relief
Download and fill in our form
Completing this form takes around 10 minutes.
To complete this form you will need the following:
- Business rates account number
- your rateable value
- latest set of audited accounts
After you've applied
We will contact you or send you an amended bill in around 20 working days.
