Small shops are at the heart of our high streets in Dulwich & West Norwood, Herne Hill and Brixton. They offer diversity and choice and provide a really personal service to their community.

You can find out more about what Dulwich & West Norwood Conservatives are doing to help shops in the area by clicking here

Yet in spite of all our efforts to smarten up our high streets, our independent retailers are still under threat.  Every day we see an increasing number of closed and boarded up shops all over the constituency, not just in areas that are crying out for regeneration such as Norwood High Street & Herne Hill, but also in Brixton and Dulwich.

Part of the problem is that our shops  face a rising burden of regulation and tax, a daily battle against crime and violence, and competition from the growth of out-of-town shopping centres.

So Conservatives are spearheading a campaign on Business Rate Relief.

Businesse Rates are universally unpopular with small shops and businesses. They are often the third most significant overhead, and are fixed, regardless of how well or badly a business is doing. So in a recession, business rates can push a firm over the edge.

Many small shops are entitled to relief from business rates - yet over half of firms don’t claim the money they’re entitled to because they don’t know about it or because it’s too complicated.

This relief could save shops up to £1,100 a year - so it’s vital we help owners claim the full amount they’re owed.

With the help of Leaseholders United, we have provided an online tool to find out what relief - if any – shops are eligible for. Click here for more details.

But we will go further than that.

If we win the next election, a Conservative Government would make Small Business Rate Relief automatic. That means scrapping the forms and bureaucracy of handling thousands of claims. It also means providing the help straight away, cutting the fixed overheads of small businesses each and every year.

When taken alongside our plans to cut small company corporation tax rates and reduce the payroll taxes of the smallest employers, this measure is another sign that, as a party, Conservatives are on the side of enterprise.

Who is eligible?

Properties with a rateable value of less than £5,000 will get 50% rate relief on their liability. Above £5,000 relief is available, but by 1% for every £100, below a maximum rate of £10,000 rateable value.

 The relief is only available for ratepayers who either:

The local billing authority will calculate the exact reduction. The rate is calculated to each chargeable day. The relief is not automatic and must be applied for.

Who is not eligible?

• Businesses with rateable values above the limits
• Empty properties
• Those receiving charitable relief

Is there a time limit to apply?

Ratepayers have until September 30th 2010 to apply for rate relief covering the years of 2007-08.