Westminster denies firms business rates relief for empty offices during lockdown

Central London companies whose staff abandoned offices to work remotely during the coronavirus lockdown have been refused business rates relief.

Westminster City Council has refused to grant the relief to office-based businesses such as accountants, law firms, and consultancies despite their workspaces remaining empty over the period.

The move has sparked anger among local businesses, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in late March that people should not go to work unless they were key workers.

Some companies have refused to pay the rates as a result, and a number are now seeking legal advice on what to do should the council take recovery action.

In a letter by Westminster Council told one company that empty rates relief was “not applicable due to Covid-19”. Instead the Council advised the person to seek specific hardship relief.

“In the meantime, I advise that you pay as much as you can, when you can,” the council added. “Please be assured that all recovery action is temporarily on hold.”

Martin Roberts, principal of Addington Capital, a property company which employs 16 people at its offices near Oxford Street, called the decision “very disappointing”.