UKHospitality responds to business rates consultation

The trade body says that the new rateable values - due to come in next April - are coming at a time of ‘unprecedented circumstances’ for the industry. 

In his October budget, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised to ‘ease the burden’ of business rates, but stopped well short of the major overhaul many had originally been calling for.​​

In its full response to the Government consultation on transition for the next business rates revaluation UKHospitality has called for:

• Assurance that the scheme will allow for all businesses to reach their true reduced value from April 2023
• A cap on how much bills can rise
• No RPI increase in the total sum of business rates
• The continuation of business rate reliefs for businesses hit hardest by the pandemic

“The priority must be enabling reductions in bills to be felt immediately and the Government needs to ensure that the cost is reduced for those sectors hit hardest by the pandemic and in most need of support,” says UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls. 

“We strongly believe that Government needs to reflect the unprecedented impact of the pandemic, compounded by the impact of an economic downturn and high levels of inflation, in the new rates scheme.”

“If this is taken into account, the hospitality sector can play its full part in the wider UK economic recovery, creating jobs and delivering skills and boosting our high streets and communities.”