Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)

In December 2021 the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) as a means of providing National Non-Domestic Rate (NNDR) / Business Rate Relief to Ratepayers who have been adversely impacted by the Covid19 pandemic but who were not eligible for other previously announced reliefs, such as the Expanded Retail Relief scheme.

Businesses which have been significantly impacted by Covid19 and National / Local Restrictions over 2019/20 and 2021/22 and who have not been eligible for the Extended Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality & Leisure), Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme can apply to St Albans City and District Council for business rate relief for the financial year 2021/22 via the Covid Additional Relief Fund. However, we cannot award this relief in respect of unoccupied hereditaments, other than those which were temporarily closed due to the Government’s advice on Covid19.

St Albans City and District Council will be directing support to those businesses who have been severely impacted by Covid19 and who have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact. We will award relief equivalent of up to 50% of the businesses net business rate liability for the financial year 2021/22. However, it is not necessary for the business to be in arrears with their business rates for this year to qualify. 

This scheme is now closed. If your application was successful you should have now received a revised Business Rate demand notice showing the amount of relief you have been awarded. 

Our CARF Policy is available to view here.