Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming business rates to enable open-plan co-working spaces to claim small business rate relief.

Small Business Rate Relief is available to ratepayers occupying individual properties with low rateable values, providing 100% relief for eligible properties up to £12,000, tapering to zero at £15,000. Local authorities determine eligibility for the relief, while the Valuation Office (VO) is responsible for assessing both the rateable value of properties and the appropriate unit of assessment for business rates purposes.

At this time, there is no sector-wide review of serviced office assessments underway.