Applying for mandatory or discretionary relief

Submit your application immediately, even when the Valuation Office Agency has not assessed a rateable value for your property.

Applications need to be made in line with our new discretionary relief policy and corporate plan priorities.

Application timelines

Discretionary relief may be backdated to 1 April of the preceding financial year. This is only if the council is able to make a decision by 30 September. 

Applications for the preceding financial year can only be considered if we receive an application and full supporting information by 31 August. If not, any relief award is limited to 1 April of the current financial year, or a later date where suitable.

However, a degree of flexibility to this backdating rule may be considered in exceptional circumstances. For example, this might include a new backdated assessment in the rating list, or in a case of local authority error.