Business

The grant can help businesses move into empty, ground-floor commercial premises in town centres across Renfrewshire, including:

• Paisley
• Johnstone
• Renfrew
• Linwood
• Erskine.

You could get a grant of up to 50% of your project costs.

The maximum amount is £25,000.

Who can apply 

You can apply for the grant if you:

• are a small-to-medium sized business (you have less than 250 employees worldwide)
• are a full-time business with a business bank account
• will operate from a previously vacant ground floor town centre commercial property in Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone, Linwood or Erskine
• have or will take out a lease of at least 36 months (3 full years) on the premises
• are the only business named on the lease or rental agreement
• have a current lease for another property and will continue to trade from there for at least 2 years after you start trading from your new property
• offer a product or service that's different or not available already in the area.

You can be an established business, have just started your business or be about to start a business.

Who cannot apply

You can't apply if:

• you're a community group, voluntary group or charitable organisation
• you're in debt to the Council
• your business is bankrupt or in liquidation.

See what funding and grants are available for charities, social enterprises, community and voluntary groups.

The following types of businesses are excluded from applying:

• multi-level marketing or pyramid selling businesses
• franchises where the franchiser has control over the business decisions
• betting shops
• pawnbrokers
• beauty industry businesses, such as nail bars, aesthetics clinics, hairdressers, or barbers
• amusement or gaming arcades
• tobacconists or vape shops
• most fast-food and dessert outlets
• convenience stores
• shops that offer adult or sexual content
• businesses or activities for political, religious or charitable purposes.

What you can use the grant for

You can use the grant for:

• improving the premises
• fixtures, fittings, or equipment
• security equipment and installation
• business stationery
• advertising and marketing
• rent
• planning permission or building regulation fees
• insurance premiums.

What you cannot use the grant for

You cannot use the grant for:

• buying vehicles
• employee wages
• utility bills.

If you've seen an empty town centre property you'd like to use for your business, get in touch with us.

Or if you haven't got a specific property in mind, we can help you find a suitable place for your business.

If we match you with a suitable premises and your business is eligible for the grant, you can start the formal grant application process.

You'll need to complete an application form and provide us with:

• recent annual accounts if you're an established business
• an up-to-date business plan
• at least two years' financial forecasts - such as profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow forecast
• the quotes for what you will use the grant for. 

When we receive all your paperwork, we'll arrange a meeting with you to discuss your application. 

We'll let you know within 2 weeks if your application was successful. If it is, we'll make a formal grant offer to you.

The grant is discretionary, and we reserve the right to decline applications that don't meet the grant objectives. Our decision is final and is not subject to appeal. 

Conditions of the grant

The grant is intended to support your business to trade from a new property. It's not intended to be the main source of funding for your new venture.

You should not begin your project until we have approved your grant. We cannot award the grant for works or expenses you've paid for before we've approved your grant application.

You must pay approved expenses through your business bank account and have supplier invoices to support this. You cannot claim expenses for cash payments to suppliers.

We'll give you the grant when your payments for expenses and suppliers have been completed.

The Retail Improvement Scheme (RIS) is a grant that you can apply for to repair, improve, upgrade, or restore the front of your shop, business, or commercial premises in Renfrewshire.

Improvements to your shop front or premises will benefit both your business and the area where it's located.

You can apply for the grant if:

• you are the owner or leaseholder of a business or commercial premises
• your business or premises is in a retail area or a town centre in Renfrewshire.

Types of businesses or premises include:

• shops
• hairdressers and beauty salons
• cafes
• restaurants
• public houses
• professional or financial services
• tourism and leisure facilities.

You usually can't apply for the grant if:

• your business forms part of a chain - it has three or more outlets
• your business turnover was more than £1m in the previous tax year
• you previously got an RIS grant from us for the same property in the last 3 years
• the property can't be accessed directly from public roads, streets, or ways
• you have an unpaid or outstanding debt with the Council.

However, we will consider each application on an individual basis.

Grants are generally for ground floor improvements only.

You can use the grant for:

• installing a new fascia - these are the horizontal boards that run around the edge of the building's roof
  new signage and lighting
• repainting the outside of your premises
• refurbishment or replacement of the shop or building frontage
• security grilles or shutters
• front of sales areas near the entrance or behind the front windows - we will assess each application for this individually.

What you cannot use the grant for

You cannot use the grant for:

• works you've already started or finished
• solid roller shutters or those with projecting external mechanisms
• moveable items - for example, stock, motor vehicles, furniture
• trade fittings like pipes, plumbing or utilities
• most internal work, for example, plastering internal walls, installing or upgrading a kitchen
• roof repairs
• paying VAT on any works or project
• fees for any necessary statutory consents.

Using the grant for roller shutters

If you've applied for a grant to install or upgrade roller shutters, we will recommend one of the following: 

We use a scoring system to assess which kind of shutter or glazing is most appropriate for your premises.  

You can't use the grant to install solid shutters or shutters with projecting external mechanisms.

If you already have these kinds of shutters, you can use the grant to upgrade to one of the types of shutters listed above. 

How much you could get

The grant could be up to 70% of the cost of improvements, depending on the size and scale of the work, and the benefits of making the improvements. 

The amount awarded is a minimum of £1,000 up to £12,000. We don't usually award more than this.

We apply a scoring system to determine if you will get the grant and how much you will get. 

You should contact us before you apply to discuss your ideas for the property. We'll give you guidance on eligibility, what supporting information you need and how long it will take to process your application. 

You should have a clear idea of the extent of works to be undertaken and the likely cost, either from estimates or professional advice. 

Email us with your ideas or questions at ris@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

We will visit your premises to discuss your proposal for the grant. 

When you are ready to apply online, you will need to include:

• plans or scaled drawings
• current photos of the premises, shop front  or building detail
• at least 3 itemised quotes for each piece of work
• evidence of who owns the property
• any required planning permissions and consents

Plans and scaled drawings

You'll need to submit plans or scaled drawings with your grant application. 

Your drawings:

• must be to scale and show elevation frontage and a cross-section of the property
• should show the building as it is and how it will look after the proposed work is done
• must make clear what work will be done and they correspond to the specification of works and quotes for the work.

If you need help with your drawings, you can get an architect or a shopfront contractor to design them for you.

Photos

We'll need current photos of the premises, shop front  or building detail. If you are using a camera enabled device (such as a phone or tablet), you can use the camera to take pictures of your evidence.

Planning and building consent

When you apply for the scheme, you will need to provide written confirmation that any planning permission or building consents have been granted, or if they are not required. 

Before you start any works on your premises or shop front, you should consider if your project:

• needs planning permission or advertisement consent
• needs a building warrant
• is in a listed building (Historic Environment Scotland website) and needs listed building consent
• is in one of Renfrewshire’s conservation areas.

Contact the:

• Development Management team for advice about planning and advertising consent at dc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0144
• Building Standards team about building standards and listed buildings advice at bc@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0144.

You can apply for the grant even if your planning permission application is in progress.

See the guidance on: 

• displaying advertisements and signage
• altering historic shopfronts and signs on the Historic Environment Scotland website.

Quotes for costs

For each type of work, you'll need three itemised quotes for each type of work. This could be sign replacement, shutter installation or restoration of building details for example. 

You might find it useful to prepare a scope of works for potential contractors when you are asking them for quotes.

Make sure your quotes are from legitimate contractors or suppliers. Where possible, get quotes from local contractors based in Renfrewshire.

Ownership or leaseholder information

You must include evidence of who owns the property, or a formal lease, with your application.

If you lease the property, you must also have written consent from the owner to do the proposed works.

Data protection

We need to collect certain information to process your grant application and to contact you about it. 

See our privacy policy on how we use your data and your rights.

You can apply online for the Retail Improvement Scheme (RIS) grant from Monday 7 April 2025.

Apply for an RIS grant

If you can't apply by the closing date, contact us at ris@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you would like to be considered for the next round. 

We’ll let you know by email when you can apply for the next round of grants. 

Contact us at ris@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you would like to be considered for the next round of grants. 

We'll let you know by email when you can apply again.

Applications for the Retail Improvement Scheme (RIS) closed on Friday 17 October 2025.

If you did not apply by the closing date, contact us at ris@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you would like to be considered for the next round of grants. We'll let you know by email when you can apply again.

If you applied by the closing date, we will review your application and let you know our decision by email. You'll hear from us within several weeks of the closing date.

We'll decide on your proposal based on the scoring system.

We'll consider your application based equally on the impact it will have and the quality of the proposed works. 

The impact includes:

• the streetscape - if it will have a positive impact on the surrounding propertie
• the status of the building - if the property is occupied or vacant and how long it's been vacant
• location - if the property in an established retail area
• how prominent it is - if it is visible from a civic space, if it's a corner unit, or it's of historical importance
• if you have asked local contractors for quotes.

The quality is based on:

• the quality and standard of the design
• the scale - if the proportions are appropriate to the building and surrounds
• any features of interest or character that will be retained, restored, or included
• the appearance, choice of materials, and colours
• how the shop or building security will be arranged or improved.

Provisional approval

If we approve your application on principle, we'll make a provisional offer setting out the conditions of the grant and the potential amount of money you could get. 

If we can't offer you a grant at this time, we'll consider your application again later, providing there is still funding available. 

Conditions of the grant

We can't award the grant until you've met all the conditions of the offer.

You must make sure you have:

• all the relevant planning permissions or building consent, in line with the approved grant scheme
• enough money to be able to pay contractors in full before they start any work.

Payment of the grant

We will pay the grant when the works have been completed to a satisfactory standard, following an inspection by us, and you have sent us:

• proof of payment to the contractor by bank or building society transfer (BACS)
• the receipted invoice from the contractor or contractors doing the work
• evidence of all necessary planning permissions or building consent, or written confirmation that these are not needed.

We'll make the payments to your nominated bank or building society account. 

We can't award the grant for cash payments to suppliers or contractors. 

If you're using internet banking, make sure this information from your online bank statement is clearly identifiable on every page: 

• name of your bank
• your name
• your bank account number and sort code
• the debit, credit, and balance columns
• name of the supplier, or suppliers, and the amounts paid to them
• the footer showing the web page.

We can only accept proof of original receipts or statements. We cannot accept screenshots.

You can scan and send us your:

• original receipts
• print outs of your bank statements.

If we have all the relevant information with your completed application for payment, we aim to pay you within 28 days of receiving your application. 

Interim payments

We can only make up to two interim payments of the grant.

You'll need to provide us with proof of payment, invoices and any required planning permission outlined above for each for interim payment request.

If you need to make an interim payment towards materials for the work, we may be able to give you up to 25% of the cost of the materials. 

Any other interim payments can only be paid towards work done on the site. This will not be more than 90% of the remaining amount of your grant. 

If you need a building warrant for the work, we will pay the final 10% of the grant when we get a completion certificate from you.

When the work is completed

Your project must be completed: 

• to what was agreed when you were awarded the grant
• with any statutory consents that were required for the work. 

You'll also need to provide us with evidence that the contractor or contractors have been invoiced and paid, as set out in the payment of the grant.

You must send us the receipts for this work as set out in the terms and conditions of the grant.

If you have any delays or difficulties sending us evidence of completion, let us know at ris@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

With energy bills and operating costs on the rise, it's becoming more expensive than ever to produce carbon emissions.

Assess your energy usage, review where you source your energy from, and install energy efficiency measures - and the average small-to-medium-sized enterprise could reduce energy bills by 18-25% and reduce their overall carbon footprint.

The Net Zero Business Grant is open to small and medium-sized businesses, including social enterprises, which meet all of the following criteria:

• the applicant is a full-time business and has a business bank account
• the business operates from commercial premises within the Renfrewshire Council area, for which there is a signed lease, rental, or licence agreement in place
• at the time of submitting the grant application, the business is neither in bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar.

This grant is not available to community groups or not-for-profit, voluntary, or charitable organisations.

Applications to this fund are limited to 1 application per business. We will not consider subsequent applications at this time.

You'll need to provide:

• an up to date business plan
• your most recent annual accounts (if applicable) or up to date management accounts
• quotes
• baseline emissions.

If a full business plan is not available, a mini business plan consisting of a 1-page summary of the company setting out its plans for the future is sufficient.

Submit an online application explaining why external financial assistance from Renfrewshire Council is necessary to enable the project to proceed.

Apply for a Net Zero Business Grant

Once we receive your application, we'll review the application against assessment criteria and will be in touch to discuss your application. We'll make our decision shortly after this meeting and, if you're successful, we'll formally offer you the grant.

Net Zero Accelerator

Scottish Enterprise's Net Zero Accelerator is a simple online tool. Businesses can use it to assess their efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions and help build their net zero action plan.

Register with Scottish Enterprise to use Net Zero Accelerator.

The Town Centre Regeneration Fund is a grant to help bring vacant, underused or derelict properties in Renfrewshire’s town centres back into use.

Specifically, it’s for where redevelopment of a significant local building or site has stalled because:

• there is a funding gap
• the cost of construction work or supplies has gone up
• restoring older buildings is complex and can require specialist skills
• economic downturns or shifts in demand can impact a project’s viability.

To qualify for funding, you must have legal ownership of the property or site, or a long-term leasehold interest (a minimum 10 years).

Your property must be:

• located in a town centre in Renfrewshire
• currently vacant, underused, or derelict
• of strategic importance including, for example, has heritage value, is prominent, or has high visibility
• potential to stimulate wider regeneration and growth in the locality.

There must be no outstanding legal disputes or legal issues with the premises or site that would delay redevelopment.

The Town Centre Regeneration Fund is provided as Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) under the UK Subsidy Control Act 2022, and applicants may be required to confirm that total MFA received does not exceed £315,000 over the current and previous 2 financial years.

To be eligible for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, applicants who are employers must be Fair Work First employers. Read more guidance on Fair Work First (gov.scot PDF). 

Your project proposal must aim to bring the property or site back into viable and productive use.

This could include commercial, cultural, community, residential, or mixed-use developments, providing they comply with the relevant planning policies.

The grant should be used for a substantive programme of works which might include:

• preparatory works
  • site clearance or demolition of non-heritage structures
  • temporary works to stabilise or secure a building
  • asbestos removal or treatment of contaminated land.
  • essential structural repairs to make the building safe or usable
• physical works
  • roof repairs or replacements
  • external fabric repairs, including windows, masonry, or facades
  • internal adaptations or refurbishments to change how the place will be used
• heritage and conservation works
  • restoration of historically significant architectural features
  • work to comply with conservation or listed building consents
  • sensitive adaptations to allow modern use while retaining heritage value
• accessibility and compliance  
  • improvements to meet building regulations like fire safety, accessibility, or energy efficiency
  • installation of ramps, lifts, or accessible toilets
• project management and oversight
  • reasonable project management or contract administration costs. 

What you cannot use it for

You cannot use the funding for:

• buying or renting land or property
• marketing and promotional costs
• general maintenance not linked to redevelopment
• VAT (unless it is non-recoverable)
• feasibility studies and option appraisals
• professional fees relating to design for example the costs for architects, engineers, surveyors, or planning consultants
• planning application and building consent fees.

Information you need to provide

Your proposal should show how it will:

• contribute to local economic growth – for example, job creation or increased footfall
• enhance the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre or local area
• encourage sustainable neighbourhoods, sustainable links, or enhancements to greenspace
• align with local regeneration strategies and community priorities.

You need to have:

• a deliverable project with detailed designs that are fully costed
• a robust and realistic delivery plan and timeline, which can begin within 12 months of you getting the grant
• the relevant planning or building warrant permissions or confirmation that you intend to apply for consents.

You need to provide evidence:

• of any market failure which has prevented redevelopment to date
• of actions taken so far to try to bring the building back into reuse
• that without public sector intervention, the project cannot go ahead due to a funding gap or issues affecting commercial viability, such as high remediation costs related to contamination, high land values, or construction costs.

You must explain how you will use the funding, including:

• a detailed breakdown of costs which will be covered by the grant
• how the amount you ask for is proportionate to the overall costs and impact
• how the project will demonstrate best value for money if it receives funding.

We'll review premises and sites in each town centre, produce a list of priority target buildings, and engage with property owners and interested parties to make them aware of the fund.

However, you can make an expression of interest if you are considering applying for the fund. 

You do not need to be designated as a priority building to make an application. 

We'll accept expressions of interest from any town centre property that meets the eligibility criteria.

Submit an expression of interest

If you’d like more information about grants from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Once we have your expressions of interest, officers will engage with you to discuss the regeneration plans and assess whether these align with the investment criteria of the fund. Expressions of interest applications will be formerly scored by officers.

You must meet a minimum scoring requirement to be considered for a grant.

If we think your project aligns with the aims of the fund, we’ll work with you to determine how much funding you need and if it represents best value for money for the fund.

The deadline for submitting full applications for the first round of funding is Tuesday 1 September 2026.

If your expression of interest application is successful

If you are invited to make a full Town Centre Regeneration Fund application, you will be asked to provide the following:

• detailed specification of works, including technical drawings
• description of how the project will be managed - and who the design team are - including an outline of the strategy for the appointment of contractor(s)
• detailed budget showing income and expenditure, including contingencies
• detailed timeline for implementation of works, including timeline for securing any necessary consents
• risk register, listing project risks and mitigation strategies
• a copy of your Business Plan or equivalent (if applicable), including an explanation of how the proposed project helps fulfil it
• an explanation of how the project meets the 4 TCF outcomes:
  • how will your project contribute to local economic growth – for example, job creation or increased footfall (250 words)
  • how will your project enhance the vitality and attractiveness of the town centre or local area (250 words)
  • how will your project encourage sustainable neighbourhoods, sustainable links, or enhancements to greenspace (250 words)
  • how will your project align with local regeneration strategies and community priorities (250 words).

How we make a decision

We’ll prioritise projects that preserve or sensitively adapt heritage or listed structures or have a prominent location within a town centre.

We’ll also prioritise projects that can:

• match fund or co-invest from the private sector or other public sources
• attract additional economic activity or investment due to the funding you’re awarded.

Provisional approval  

If we approve your application on principle, we'll make a provisional offer setting out the:

• conditions of the grant
• potential amount of money you could get. 

Conditions of the grant

We cannot award the grant until you've met all the conditions of the offer.

Before any grant funding is released, you must have:

• all the relevant planning permissions or building consent, in line with the approved grant scheme
• a project delivery team in place including a main contractor, project manager and other key people for the project
• enough money to be able to pay contractors in full before they start any work.

How we pay the grant

We’ll pay the grant as works have been completed to a satisfactory standard, following an inspection by us, and you have sent us:

• proof of payment to the contractor by bank or building society transfer (BACS)
• the receipted invoice from the contractor or contractors doing the work
• evidence of all necessary planning permissions or building consent, or written confirmation that these are not needed.

We'll make the payments to your nominated bank or building society account.  

We cannot award the grant for cash payments to suppliers or contractors.  

We can make interim / stage payments in arrears towards the project. This will not be more than 90% of your grant. If you need a building warrant for the work, we will pay the final 10% of the grant when we get a completion certificate from you.

If you’d like more information about grants from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, email us at regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

There are already a range of employability services available in Renfrewshire through the key employment services Invest in Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire Council), Skills Development Scotland and the DWP (Renfrew, Johnstone and Paisley job centres).

Each year the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (Renfrewshire LEP) reviews these core services, and other services available locally and nationally, and with the assistance of the 6 LEP thematic groups identify gaps in local service delivery which they wish to fill through a commissioning process.

The Renfrewshire LEP uses a local employability grants process to commission delivery partners from across the public, third and private sector to work alongside the core and statutory local services.

This ensures the local service offer meets the employability support needs of local residents, in particular those with barriers to employment who require more support than others.

About the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (Renfrewshire LEP)

Renfrewshire LEP is the strategic employability partnership for the area. It is made up of a range of local partner agencies working together to provide an integrated and supportive service to unemployed people across Renfrewshire.

The Renfrewshire LEP has a strategic management group and a number of thematic subgroups.

The Renfrewshire LEP is responsible for designing and delivering services funded by the Scottish Governments No One Left Behind approach. Read further information on the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind National Strategy.
 

You can apply if you are a public, third and private sector organisation.

Information events will take place online via Teams on:

• Wednesday 7 January 10am to 11am
• Wednesday 14 January 10am to 11am.

Invitations to these virtual sessions can be found in the key information document below.

Read these guides for more information before applying:

To apply, you'll need to send us:

• an application form
• a claim and budget form.

Download and fill in the application form:

Download and fill in the claim and budget form:

Once you've filled in both forms, email them to kay.mcintosh@renfrewshire.gov.uk, keren.ferguson@renfrewshire.gov.uk, and ceilidh.rosbotham@renfrewshire.gov.uk by 11:59pm on Sunday 1 February 2026.

If you need help to apply:

• email kay.mcintosh@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 07955387405.

You may be able to get a full relief on your business rates for 1 year if your business is moving into a long-term empty property (a property that was empty for at least 6 months before you moved in). This is through ‘Fresh Start Relief’.

You could get relief through Fresh Start Relief if you meet all these criteria:

• you moved into the property on or after 1 April 2018 and the property had been empty for at least 6 months
• the property has a rateable value of £100,000 or less
• the property you’re applying for is actively occupied.

These property categories are ineligible for Fresh Start Relief from 1 April 2026:

• accommodation of 1 or more advertisements
• provision of facilities for betting
• payday lending
• those that require a short-term let licence but have not obtained one
• some deer forests and shootings.

To apply, you’ll need:

• business rates reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill), unless you’re a new ratepayer
• valuation reference number, if you have one
• your business’s rateable value.

Your business rates reference number is 11 digits long and begins with a 5, 6, or 8. You can find it on your most recent business rates bill.

Find your valuation reference number and your business’s rateable value by searching for your business’s postcode on the Scottish Assessors’ Association website.

If you need help with your application, you can either:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0202.

Apply for business rates relief for businesses moving into long-term empty properties

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

You should continue to pay your business rates bill as normal until you’ve received an updated bill.

You can get a full or partial relief on your business rates if your organisation provides certain services for people with disabilities.

You can get up to a 100% relief on your business rates if your organisation provides:

• residential accommodation for the care or aftercare of people who are ill
• training for people with disabilities
• welfare services or workshops for people with disabilities.

This relief is not available for properties used for:

• the administrative purposes of charities that support people with disabilities
• treatment, rather than aftercare, of people who are ill.

To apply, you’ll need your business rates account number.

Your business rates account number is 11 digits long and begins with a 5, 6, or 8. You can find it on your most recent business rates bill.

You’ll need to provide a plan or diagram of the layout of each floor in your property. You’ll need to list the purpose of each room so we can understand how you’re using the property.

If you’re an agent acting on behalf of the owner or tenant, you’ll also need to provide a copy of your agent’s declaration.

If you need help with your application, you can either:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0202.

Apply for business rates relief for properties providing services for people with disabilities

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

You should continue to pay your business rates bill as normal until you’ve received an updated bill.

You can get a full relief on your business rates if your organisation is a day nursery.

You can get a 100% relief on your business rates if you use your property mainly or entirely as a nursery that also provides day care of children.

To apply, you’ll need your business rates account number.

Your business rates account number is 11 digits long and begins with a 5, 6, or 8. You can find it on your most recent business rates bill.

If you need help with your application, you can either:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0202.

Attach your application to this online form

Send your application to:

Renfrewshire Council
Finance and Resources, Revenues Business Team
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AN

Fill in this PDF form

Then, send us your completed form using one of the methods below.

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

You should continue to pay your business rates bill as normal until you’ve received an updated bill.

You may be able to get a full or partial relief on your business rates if your property is empty.

Standard commercial properties

If your standard commercial property is empty, you can get:

• 50% business rates relief for the first 3 months of being empty
• 10% relief after the first 3 months.

Industrial properties

If your industrial property is empty, you can get:

• 100% business rates relief for the first 6 months of being empty
• 10% relief after the first 6 months.

New-build properties

If your new-build property is empty, you can usually get 100% business rates relief for the first 12 months after the property becomes occupied or for 4 years after the date that the property was added to the valuation roll, whichever is sooner.

Partly occupied properties

If only part of your property is empty and another part is occupied, you may be able to get business rates relief on the empty portion of the property. The rate of relief depends on your specific circumstances, such as the building’s layout or which parts are occupied.

The start date for this relief is the later of these dates:

• when the part occupation began
• the start of the financial year in which you applied for relief.

The end date for this relief is the earliest of these dates:

• when the part occupation ended
• the end of the financial year in which you applied for relief.
• when the property becomes fully empty.

We may extend this relief into the following financial year, depending on your circumstances.

Other types of empty properties

You can get 10% business rates relief if the empty property meets any of these criteria:

• has a rateable value less than £1,700
• cannot be occupied by law
• is under a compulsory purchase order
• has no buildings on it (in other words, the property is just empty land)
• the owner is in administration or is subject to an administration order
• the owner is a company or partnership that is winding up (see ‘winding up’ on mygov.scot website).

To apply, you’ll need your business rates account number.

Your business rates account number is 11 digits long and begins with a 5, 6, or 8. You can find it on your most recent business rates bill.

You’ll also need to include details about when and why the property became empty.

If you need help with your application, you can either:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0202.

Apply for relief for a standard commercial or industrial property

Apply for relief for a new-build property

Apply for relief for a partly occupied property

Apply for relief for another type of empty property

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

You should continue to pay your business rates bill as normal until you’ve received an updated bill.

You may be able to get a partial relief on your business rates if you have a hospitality, retail, or leisure business.

From 2026–27 to 2028–29, additional reliefs for eligible properties in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors are available:

• 15% relief for eligible properties liable for the basic or intermediate property rate (those with a rateable value up to and including £100,000), capped at £110,000 per business per year
• an additional 25% relief for eligible licensed hospitality and music venues, also liable for the basic or intermediate property rate, available for the same 3-year period.

Together, these reliefs will give eligible licensed hospitality premises and music venues a total of 40% relief for the next three years, capped at £110,000 per business per year.

If you’re already receiving 100% business rates relief for another reason (for example, through the Small Business Bonus Scheme), then there’s no need to apply for hospitality relief.

To apply, you’ll need:

• your business rates account number
• your company registration number.

Your business rates account number is 11 digits long and begins with a 5, 6, or 8. You can find it on your most recent business rates bill.

If you need help with your application, you can either:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0202.

Apply for business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

You should continue to pay your business rates bill as normal until you’ve received an updated bill.