Business Rate!!! Can we avoid paying in this Circumstances?

Guest007

Hello,

A client got a lease for a shop (the paperwork is not ready yet) June 2011. The shop was empty for a while before they took over. There was no water, electricity etc. and the state of the shop was very bad.

They have done the work made the place usable, then the London riot. Shop lost a lot stocks in riot.

They have received the letter form Hackney Council to pay the rate. But the owner is not in state where he can afford paying this rate. Any idea about small business rate relief or anything else…

Can somebody give some advice on this?

Regards,

PGM

I've had six month expemtions for rental properties that haven't been in a condition to rent. But they've left it a long time if they got the shop June 11?!