Improvement Relief

If you make certain improvements to your property, you may get relief from higher business rates bills. 

You do not need to apply for improvement relief or do anything differently. If you meet the necessary requirements, your council will apply the relief to your bills.

You can find out more about which improvements are eligible by going to the GOV.UK website

If you have questions about a certificate of qualifying works, please contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) at the email address on your certificate or via a VOA contact form.

Please note that the VOA cannot answer queries about the occupation condition or your business rates bill.

Customer Questions and Answers:

What is improvement relief?

  • Improvement relief supports businesses who have invested in their property.
  • It provides relief from higher business rates bills, where the increase in your bill was due to making certain improvements to your property.
  • The relief lasts for 12 months from when the improvement works were completed.

Who is eligible for improvement relief? Do I need to apply for it?

  • You do not need to apply for improvement relief or do anything differently.
  • Your local council will apply the relief to your bills if you are eligible.
  • To be eligible for improvement relief, you must:
    • have qualifying improvement works, and
    • meet the occupation condition.
  • For more information, go to the GOV.UK website

How does improvement relief work?

  • You will receive a certificate from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) if you have qualifying works. The VOA will give the same information to your local council.
  • Your council will apply the relief and send you a revised bill if they are satisfied that you meet the occupation requirements. This means that you have occupied the property during and after the improvement works.

I have received a certificate from the VOA – what does this mean?

  • If you have received a certificate of qualifying works from the VOA, this means that you may be eligible for improvement relief. 
  • Improvement relief provides relief from higher business rates bills, where the increase in your bill was due to making certain improvements to your property.
  • The VOA will send this information to your local council.
  • Your local council will apply the relief to your business rates bill if you also meet the occupation condition.

I think my certificate for improvement relief is wrong. Who should I contact?

  • The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) values qualifying works and issues certificates to ratepayers.
  • There is no right of appeal against the certified values, however, you should let the VOA know if you think there is something wrong with your certificate.
  • You can contact the VOA using the email address on your letter or via a VOA contact form.

Where can I find out more information about improvement relief?

  • To find out more about improvement relief, go to the GOV.UK website