Business rates hardship relief
If paying your rates would put your business in real difficulty, your council can reduce or cancel the bill. It's rare, and you'll need to show your figures.
Roughly worth: Council's discretion
First step: Ring Business Debtline, then ask your council about hardship relief.
Who it is for
The council has to be satisfied you'd be in financial difficulty without it, and that helping you is in the interests of local council tax payers (for example because jobs or a local service would be lost).
How to get it
Apply to your council's business rates team with evidence of your finances. Get free advice from Business Debtline first so your application is strong.
Each council runs this differently. Find yours on the councils page.
Run by Your council. Last checked 14 October 2026 against the official source.