Warning of business rates debt crisis as firms in England owe councils £2.5bn

The debt crisis facing English business has ratcheted up further as companies now owe local councils almost £2.5 billion in unpaid business rates, according to new analysis.

Many firms have seen their debt piles climb higher over the past year after being forced to shut their doors for long periods or having faced disruption from pandemic restrictions.

The Government has offered retail, leisure and hospitality companies a business rates holiday since the onset of the pandemic last year and confirmed this week that it will extend the current ban on commercial evictions until next March.

However, analysis of official data by real estate advisers Altus Group has revealed a jump in rates arrears despite financial support measures in place.

Councils collected £14.88bn in business rates in the year to 31 March 2021 from firms not eligible for the holiday.

Altus said the figures also revealed £1.18bn in rates arrears accrued over the year, taking total rates debt, including arrears from previous years, to £2.49bn.

The large rates debt burden is expected to particularly affect office operators and industrial firms who still had to pay full business rates but have been impacted heavily by Covid-19.

This debt mountain comes on top of billions in rent debt arrears, with hospitality and retail trade bosses warning that the firms across the sectors face unpaid rent piles of more than £5bn.

The new figures come as MPs prepare to debate legislation in Parliament on Monday which could rule out coronavirus-related business rates appeals.

“Material change in circumstances” appeals typically allow rate-payers to seek substantial adjustments to the rateable value of properties.

The Rating Surveyors Association say that the overall value of appeals due to coronavirus are worth around £5bn to firms in England.

However, in March, the Government said it would provide a £1.5bn pot to councils outside of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors aimed at those who had suffered the most economically, rather the normal right to appeal.

Robert Hayton, UK president of property tax at Altus, said: “Removing the appeal right from firms is a crushing blow to business.

“The replacement scheme is wholly inadequate – it won’t deliver enough support quickly enough and will exclude those firms still trading under restrictions.

“This Bill threatens the post-pandemic recovery and undermines the whole rating system.”