Frequently Asked Questions

How is the money I pay spent?
Business Rates are collected by all Councils and are paid into a central government pool. This money is then redistributed to local councils according to the population in each area.

Who pays the rates, the owner or the occupier of a property?
Under normal circumstances the person occupying or entitled to occupy a property is the person who is liable to pay the rates.

How do I register for Business Rates?
You can contact the Rates Office or complete the Business Rates Change of Circumstances Online form.

What is the Rateable Value of my property?
You can check the rateable value of any property on-line at Valuation Office Website.

How can I appeal against my Rateable Value?
Contact your local Valuation Office at 2nd Floor, Wellington House, Delamere Street, Crewe, CW1 2LQ. Telephone 01270 452100 or on-line at Valuation Office Website.

How much rates do I pay?
Rates payable are calculated by multiplying the Rateable Value of your property by the National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier. However your bill may be subject to a Transitional Adjustment. You can contact the Rates Office for details of rates payable.

My property is empty do I still have to pay Rates?
The rules regarding empty property rate changed on the 1st April 2008. From that date for the first 3 months that a property is empty there are no Business Rates due. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties. After this period, rates are payable in full. However, there are a number of exemptions from the empty property rate. Contact the Rates Office for information about your property.

I am only using part of my property. Is there any relief available?
Section 44a of the Local Government Finance Act gives councils discretion to award relief if part of a property, that is included in the rating assessment, is temporarily not being used. Applications must be made in writing to the Rates Office.

Is any help available to small businesses?
Yes see information on Small Business Rate Relief.

My business is suffering financial hardship. What can I do?
Have a look at the Rate Relief section and see if your business falls into any of the categories to which we can award rate relief.

Cheshire East Council has discretion to award Hardship Relief where a ratepayer is suffering from financial hardship. The authority must have regard for the interest of Council Tax payers when considering applications. Applications must be made in writing to the Rates Office.

Why have you sent me a reminder?
Non Domestic Rates is payable by monthly instalment's (normally 10 for a full year). You have received a reminder because according to the Council's records you have not made the monthly payment in accordance with the instalments as indicated on your latest Non Domestic Rates demand.

The outstanding payment on your reminder can be brought up to date and you may then continue to pay monthly instalments. You should however be aware that we only have to send you one reminder during the year for an overdue installments. If you miss another instalment you will lose the right to pay monthly and the total balance for the year becomes due immediately.

Why have I received a summons for the whole year, when I have until March to pay?
You do not have until March to pay your Non Domestic Rates bill. By law, Non Domestic Rates is payable by monthly instalments, normally April to January. Because you have not paid your instalments on time and you have not complied with the request on the reminder and/or final notice you have been sent you have lost the right to pay this years Non Domestic Rates monthly. The full balance of Non Domestic Rates as shown on the summons is therefore due and payable before the hearing date as detailed.

Why have I incurred costs to my account?
The Council have incurred additional expense in preparing and issuing a summons for non-payment. The costs charged (which have been agreed with the local Magistrates Court) cover those expenses and also the expense of laying the complaint and the cost of the hearing. Both the reminder and the final notice detailed that costs could be incurred to your account if the required payments were not made.

What if I don't pay the full amount of the summons?
If you do not pay the amount due including the costs, or contact the Council, then the case will be dealt with in your absence and the Court will issue a Liability Order which will incur further costs. This order allows the Council to collect the outstanding Non Domestic Rates by various methods, which can include the use of bailiffs or insolvency proceedings being instigated against an inPidual or company. These methods will not be used if a suitable payment schedule is arranged with the Recovery Section, and the agreed payments are maintained. However, making an arrangement will not prevent the Liability Order being granted or the extra costs being incurred.

Please note that the Court are not able to take account of your financial situation or discuss payment with you. If you agree that you owe the Non Domestic Rates there is no need for you to attend at the Court.

You only need to appear if you have a valid defence to put to the Magistrates as to why you consider you are not liable. It is easier to sort out any relevant matters before the hearing by contacting the Recovery Section. If you still wish to attend at the Court you should contact the Recovery Section direct stating the reason why you wish to attend. An appeal raised with the Valuation Office is not a valid defence.

The issue of a Liability Order by the Magistrates Court in no way blacklists you or the property.