Under the new Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount business rates relief (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property. To be clear, eligible charities can benefit from both the rates relief and the grants if all the eligibility criteria are met. Detailed guidance from BEIS can be read here and a Technical FAQ for Local Authorities has also been published.
Eligible businesses with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000. Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. The guidance confirms that charities which would otherwise meet this criteria but whose bill for 11 March had been reduced to nil by a local discretionary award should still be considered to be eligible for the RHL grant.Based on the MHCLG guidance on the Expanded Retail Discount, the hereditaments operated by charities are likely to include: charity shops, museums, galleries, historic houses, sport charity facilities, theatres, public halls (including village halls and community halls), and clubhouses, clubs and institutions. Unfortunately, the grant will not apply to properties with exemption from business rates. HMRC has told us “This fund has been designed to support the smallest businesses in those sectors which have been hit hardest by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The scheme has been tied to the business rates system and rating assessments, as together these provide a framework for Local Authorities to make payments as quickly as possible“. This link has more detail – https://www.charitytaxgroup.org.uk/news-post/2020/retail-hospitality-leisure-grant-fund-guidance-published-cash/ So Shed’s who are being charged business rates but get an exemption as they are a Charity, should be able to claim £10,000 — it is an amazing opportunity.