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Summons and Bailiffs
Struggling to pay your Business Rates
The Local Authority may also grant relief to a ratepayer who
would suffer hardship if they paid the whole bill.
A quarter of the cost of this hardship falls directly on council
taxpayers. To ensure that council tax payers money is being well
spent, the council must ensure that granting this type of relief
benefits the wider community as well as the ratepayer concerned.
Therefore, to receive relief, a business would need to demonstrate
it was a vital local amenity and the only one of that type in the
area.
- If you wish to apply, you must write to us giving your
reasons. Any decision to grant relief is made by the
Cabinet.
The usual method of payment is by 10 monthly instalments,
from April to January. This number will be reduced where bills
are produced later in the year.
Ratepayers are required to make their payments by the due dates
shown on their bills and it is essential that payments are actually
received by the Council on or before the due date. Where payments
are not received on time, recovery action will begin without
delay.
The maximum number of reminder notices you will receive is two.
If you continue to pay late after receiving two reminders you will
receive a final notice and will lose your right to pay by
instalments. If the full amount on the final notice is not paid a
Summons will be issued incurring legal costs.
If you receive a summons
If you are unable to pay the amount shown on the summons you
should contact us immediately to discuss your account. We
will be able to advise you on the best course of action and offer a
payment arrangement. If the amount remains unpaid the Council
will seek a liability order at the Court Hearing.
From 1 October 2011 court proceedings will be held
at Havering Magistrates Court, Romford.
You have the opportunity to attend the Court although the
hearing is only to determine your liability, not your ability to
pay. Any questions relating to rateable value will not be dealt
with by the Court, you will need to contact the Valuation
Office.
Where payment of the amount shown on the summons is not made, or
a payment arrangement has not been agreed further recovery action
will be taken. This may include the use of Bailiffs (which
will incur further substantial costs), bankruptcy or liquidation
and ultimately Committal to Prison.
If you have made an arrangement the Liability Order will be held
until the agreed payment plan is cleared. If you receive any notice
from the Council regarding the non-payment of your Business Rate,
do not ignore it, as this may mean that further action will be
taken with additional costs being incurred.
If you are unable to pay your Business Rate, please contact the
Business Rate office to discuss the situation.
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