Grants Available for Businesses Affected by Local Lockdown

The Government have announced new grants will be available for businesses in England that are required to close due to local lockdown measures.

Payments are triggered by a national decision to close businesses in a high incidence area. Each payment will be made for a three week lockdown period and each new three week lockdown period triggers an additional payment.

The grants are available for each property that is closed at the following rates:

• For businesses with property with a rateable value of £51,000 and over (or occupies a property or part of a property subject to an annual rent or mortgage payment of exactly £51,000 or above) they will receive £1,500 for every three weeks that the business is closed
• For businesses with property with a rateable value below £51,000 (or occupies a property or part of a property subject to an annual rent or mortgage payment of less than £51,000) they will receive £1,000 for every three weeks that the business is closed

Other key points:

• If a business is not on the business rates list, it may still be eligible to claim through a discretionary fund and you should contact your local authority
• Local authorities will be responsible for distributing the grants to businesses in circumstances where they are closed due to local interventions
• Any businesses that are still closed at a national level such nightclubs will not be eligible
• The grants will be treated as taxable income.

 
Further information from the Government regarding this scheme can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministers-announce-new-grants-for-businesses-affected-by-local-lockdowns