Flooding can have a devastating impact on commercial properties—damaging premises, disrupting business, and leading to long periods of vacancy or uninhabitability. In such cases, many property owners and tenants ask: “Can I get a business rates deduction for flood-damaged property?” The answer is yes—relief may be available, but it requires prompt action and evidence.
At Fraser Bond, we support landlords, occupiers, and asset managers in navigating business rates reductions following flood-related damage, ensuring fair treatment, compliance, and cost recovery where possible.
Yes—but not always in full. If your commercial property is severely damaged by flooding, you may be eligible for:
Temporary removal from the rating list (if the property is unfit for occupation)
Hardship or discretionary relief from your local authority
Partial rates relief during the repair or reinstatement period
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) or your local billing authority can apply such deductions, depending on the nature and duration of the flood damage.
If flood damage has made your property wholly unusable or unfit for occupation, you can apply to the VOA to remove the property from the rating list temporarily. This could reduce your business rates bill to zero during the unoccupied period.
Common qualifying scenarios:
Major structural damage
Loss of access or utilities
Health and safety concerns preventing occupation
Long drying-out or reinstatement times
You’ll need to submit:
Photographic evidence
Insurance loss adjuster reports
Contractor assessments
Confirmation that no trading is taking place
If part of the property is damaged or unusable, but the remainder is still in use, the local authority may apply Section 44A relief, which apportions the business rates bill to reflect the usable space.
This is often used for:
Partial flooding of warehouses or large retail units
Situations where only one trading floor or zone is affected
Phased reinstatement following a major flood event
If the flooding has caused significant financial hardship and affects your ability to trade or collect rent, you may apply to your council for discretionary hardship relief. This is decided case-by-case and typically applies when:
Insurance does not fully cover the interruption
You are temporarily unable to occupy or let the property
The relief is in the interest of the local community or economy
Fraser Bond works with commercial property owners, retailers, and managing agents to secure business rates deductions or exemptions during periods of unoccupancy caused by flood damage.
We assist with:
Preparing evidence and applications to the VOA or local council
Liaising with insurers, loss adjusters, and surveyors
Managing appeals, rateable value amendments, and revaluations
Advising landlords on void management and compliance during restoration
Reviewing rating bills to reclaim backdated overpayments where applicable
If your property has been impacted by flooding, you should notify the VOA and your billing authority immediately to preserve your entitlement to any reductions.
Fraser Bond can help you compile the right documentation, navigate local relief schemes, and limit your financial exposure during periods of disruption.
Visit FraserBond.com to speak with our business rates advisory team or request a flood damage rates review.
