TTR Barnes

Business Grant Support in Response to Coronavirus Impact

In response to the Coronavirus, Covid – 19, the Government announced there would be support for small businesses, and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. This support will take the form of two grant funding schemes, the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.  North East coronavirus grants in Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle and Tyneside have all been made available through Local Authorities.  

How much funding will be provided via the North East coronavirus grants and who is eligible?

Small Business Grant Fund

Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000 in line with the eligibility criteria.  This will be one grant per qualifying property.  If you are unsure if you qualify for Small Business Rates Relief you can check here

Small Business Grant Fund Specific Exclusions

• Properties that were not eligible for percentage SBRR relief (including those eligible for the Small Business Rate Multiplier) are excluded.
• Properties occupied for personal uses. Examples of where there may be personal use include private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
• Car parks and parking spaces.
• For the avoidance of doubt, businesses which as of the 11 March were in liquation or were dissolved will not be eligible.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) Fund

Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG), businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (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.

• Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000, in line with the eligibility criteria.
• 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, in line with the eligibility criteria.

RHLG Exclusions

• Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or over are not eligible for this scheme.
• Businesses which are not ratepayers in the business rates system are not included in this scheme.
• Properties occupied for personal uses. Examples of where there may be personal use include private stables and loose boxes, beach huts and moorings.
• Car parks and parking spaces.
• For the avoidance of doubt, businesses which as of the 11 March were in liquation or were dissolved will not be eligible.

Who should apply for this funding?

The person who according to the billing authority’s records was the ratepayer in respect of the hereditament on the 11 March 2020.

Where the Local Authority has reason to believe that the information that they hold about the ratepayer on the 11 March 2020 is inaccurate they may withhold or recover the grant and take reasonable steps to identify the correct ratepayer.

Landlord and management agents are urged to support local government in quickly identifying the correct ratepayer.

Where should you apply for a North East coronavirus grant?

The North East coronavirus business grants should be applied for directly through your Local Authority.  Visit their website or contact their Business Rates department to find further details.  Specifically in the North East you can visit the following links.  You will need information to hand to complete your applications.

Sunderland Coronavirus Business Grant Application Form

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/17087/COVID-19-Business-Rates-Grant-Funding-Scheme-form

Durham Coronavirus Business Grant Application Form

http://durham.gov.uk/ndrgrants

South Tyneside Coronavirus Business Grant Application Form

https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/69276/Coronavirus-COVID-19-emergency-business-grant-request

North Tyneside Coronavirus Business Grant Application Form

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1428/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-grants

Newcastle Coronavirus Business Grant Application Form

https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/public-health-wellbeing-and-leisure/public-health-services/coronavirus-covid-19/support-business-coronavirus

Rating List Changes

Any changes to the rating list (rateable value or to the hereditament) after the 11 March 2020 including changes which have been backdated to this date should be ignored for the purposes of eligibility except in cases where it was factually clear to the Local Authority on the 11 March 2020 that the rating list was inaccurate on that date, Local Authorities may withhold the grant and/or award the grant based on their view of who would have been entitled to the grant had the list been accurate.

Where the Local Authority chooses to use this discretion then landlords and managing agents are urged to support the Local Authority in identifying quickly the correct ratepayers.

Ensure your eligibility

Any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back.  Make sure you have checked all of your details and listing data are correct before application.

If you are struggling and need assistance with this process, please contact one of the TTRB Team.

*All information sourced from Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund Guidance V2 from Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy