Discretionary Rate Relief
This section allows you to download the discretionary rate relief form and gives advice on how and when to use the form.
Download the form
I want to download the discretionary rate relief form (pdf) (62.9K)
If you wish to be considered for discretionary rate relief please complete and return the form with a covering letter explaining the reasons why you believe your organisation should be granted this help.
Legislation concerning discretionary rate relief
Sections 47 & 48 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 provide that local authorities can grant discretionary rate relief to certain organisations.
Who can apply for discretionary rate relief?
- A charity or trustees for a charity, where they are the ratepayer and the premises are wholly or mainly
used for charitable purposes. They will also qualify for 80% mandatory relief under Sections 43 & 45 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. - One or more organisations, occupying the premises, which are not established or conducted for profit.
Each of the organisation’s main objectives must be:
Charitable, or
Philanthropic, or
Religious, or
Concerned with education, or
Concerned with social welfare, or
Concerned with science, literature or fine arts.
- Clubs, societies, or other organisations not established or conducted for profit, which occupy premises used wholly or mainly for the purposes of recreation.
How much discretionary rate relief can be granted?
Up to 20% can be granted to charities and up to 100% to non-charities.
Who pays for the relief?
The National Non-Domestic Rating Pool meets part of the cost of all discretionary rate relief. The local council tax payers meet the rest of the cost.
Are there any time limits?
Up until 30 September relief can be backdated to the start of the previous financial year i.e. a decision to award relief made on 30 September 2004 can be backdated to 1 April 2003.
Relief can be granted for a specific time period, but if it is not then a complete financial year’s notice must be given of any adjustment.
Information about applying for Discretionary rate relief
What if you already receive (or have received) relief for another property in the Borough?
As both discretionary and mandatory rate relief depends on the use of premises you need to complete a new application for each property you occupy.
You will not necessarily be granted discretionary rate relief just because you received it on a previous property.
What if you share the property?
Some properties are divided into a number of separate rating assessments. For example, separate rooms or floors in an office block may be individually assessed, alternatively the block may have just one assessment.
If you either share a rating assessment with another organisation, or another organisation uses your premises (for example if your clubhouse is regularly used by another group) then we need to know about them.
We need to know who they are, how often they use the premises and what they use the premises for.
Contact name and telephone number
These will help us to contact you if we have a query with your form.
If you have any enquiry about the form please contact us on the details below.
Business Rates Section
Local Taxation Unit
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 0SH
Telephone: 01737 276533 or 276691
Fax: 01737 276260
Email: Business.rates@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
What will happen next?
We aim to assess your claim within 10 working days, however if we are unable to do so we will advise you of how much longer it is likely to take.
Once your claim is assessed we will inform you of the decision in writing.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
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