£10k grant for renting or owning a business premises

[Redda]

Hi, just wondered if I was missing something on the eligibility for claiming the £10,000 small business grant as I've been looking to see if a friend will be able to claim.

All I can see is that you have to be the person registered for the Business Rates (even if you have small business rate relief and don't pay rates), they don't seem to need to know how long you have been trading or turnover etc. So everyone who rents or owns a business premises will get £10k free?

[Peppafrig]

Isn't it a loan?

[EvilTwins]

I had an email from the council. All I had to do was supply bank details. They have everything else in their records.

[nicknamehelp]

if you go on local council website should be an oline form to complete and will get if eligible. Business needs to operate from business premises not residential. Its not a loan but a grant.

[Redda]

@Peppafrig no it's a grant, not repayable
@EvilTwins I think our Council is sending letters, but it just seems a bit strange that someone who owns or rents a shop without any proof of actually trading or any income will just receive a big lump sum. My friend was just storing things in a very small shop, no trading, no accounts but seems to be eligible for the grant.

[EvilTwins]

Mine was paid about a week after I filled the form in.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

It's a grant - I've been told it should be with me in a couple of weeks.

[Thunderpunt]

Don't hold your breath if you're in Hertsmere BC, I completed a very rudimentary online form for the grant to be told our business is not eligible. We are a small restaurant, been there for over 12 years and in receipt of small business rate relief, so according to the Gov.uk website we very much should be eligible.
Been waiting 2 days for a response to my email.

[Redda]

Thanks - I'll let her know, I really thought I must have missed something and proof of trading would be needed

[Redda]

@Thunderpunt that's ridiculous! Surely it's not up to the Council to decide - I hope you manage to get the grant

[Tarararara]

Point 15 of the guidance says that businesses who are dissolved or in liquidation as of 11 March are not eligible, which seems to suggest some actual 'trading' needs to be ongoing?

[Tarararara]

@Thunderpunt did they give a reason why?

[Redda]

It wasn't on Companies House so not a registered company, dissolved or liquidated so it seems she should get the cash

[Tarararara]

I expect she will - I'm a holiday cottage owner, taxed through self assessment (as holiday cottages are 'income from property') so I have nothing at companies house either, and I've received the grant. Only thing is, on the council form I had to give name and details of my business, the trading website etc. They also asked if I was a Ltd company or Sole Trader (I answered neither, but if i had to answer yes, then had to give registration nos etc).

[Redda]

Thanks @Tararara I guess she'll have to fill in the form and wait and see :) It does seem to be the easiest way of getting cash right now without having to show the need for it iyswim, compared to Self employed people and those claiming UC - quite a bonus for some.

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

It depends on the rateable value too, can be up to £25k grant so long as your ratable value is less than £51000

[Thunderpunt]

@Tarararara no nothing - no reason given. Just told to email revenues and they will make me a priority- that was 2 days ago.....

[lanbro]

Basically yes, if your name is on the rates bill you're eligible. Both of my businesses have received the grants already, from 2 different local authorities. It is a grant but the small print does say the government could ask for it to be repaid in the future

[fivesecondrule]

@lanbro is that clause to your specific council(s) or is it nationwide/ Governement?

[lanbro]

@fivesecondrule I'm not sure to be quite honest...I'll see if I can see where I read it

[fivesecondrule]

Thank you- I've read it's taxable so it would be handy to know for future.

[lanbro]

@fivesecondrule it must've been in the small print of my application as can't see anything on the website...

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

My £10k arrived this morning .

This makes a huge difference to de-risking my small business this year.