Business rates advice needed

[reallylost]

Hi, I am hoping someone can advise.

We have been running a car boot sale for a few years and hire a field from a charity (they have a hall and adjoining field with play area and dog walking compound which is accessible to the public 24/7).

We have just received a bill for business rates which has never happened before so unsure what to do. We hire the field on a Sunday morning 28 times a year so I didn't think we would be charged business rates as a) its a public park, (b) there are no buildings apart from the hall which the charity already pays business rates for and we don't actually use.

Has anyone got any advice on how to dispute this or are they correct? I have looked at several other car boot sales and none of them seem to be registered for business rates (searched on Gov site).

Many Thanks

Darren

[echat11]

Hi ReallyLost

Welcome to LB

There are lots of facts to consider, it isn't clear cut that you should pay business rates because you don't own the land, you rent it for 28 weeks a year, you use it for a certain number of hours, a load of other factors etc. You should definitely Appeal because it's not clear cut and there are other boot sales who aren't paying business rates (your research). Also you maybe able to mitigate the level that's applied.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rating-m...rating%20lists.

https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/diver...s-on-your-farm

[islandgirl]

have you contacted your local councillor for help?