9,000 small firms entitled to claim rate relief

Sep 17 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

FOLLOWING last week’s article in the Daily Post about claiming Small Business Rate Relief, we are surprised to hear that Liverpool Council believe that there are only 2,600 firms entitled to claim in Liverpool.

We have details of all those properties that meet the basic requirements for relief and that totals at least 9,000 in Liverpool. Even the most conservative estimate would put the firms entitled to claim at 8,000.

The Liverpool website has an SBRR page, but makes no mention of the September 30, 2008, claiming deadline for the 2007 year.

The downloadable form uses expressions like “valuation period” or “partial valuation period” and then goes on to say that it is a criminal offence to make a false statement.

How many small businesses know what a valuation period is and won’t fill in the form for fear of making a false statement?

Worse still, many might guess and put in the wrong valuation period and lose their refund. These problems are common with other council sites.

If you want to make sure you claim your legal entitlement of three years and don’t miss out because you have “ticked the wrong box” please:

1. Go to www. leaseholdersunited.com click on the SBRR scrolling banner;

2. Click on the big red button, complete your property details;

3. Put LDP in the referral code box, so the Daily Post can get some credit for helping Liverpool;

4. Click on Find my eligibility Što identify how much you are entitled to and to get a claim form;

5. Sign it and stick it in the post.

You can then wait for your refund cheque for last year, and automatically receive it for the following two years.

Registering with LeaseholdersUnited will enable us to help you keep your other property costs down for example, rent, service charges, etc, with many of our online services free of charge.