RATEWATCH – SUPPORTING CHARITIES FACING RATES RELIEF CHALLENGES

In light of the significant difficulties Eat Up has experienced in securing mandatory charitable rates relief — despite clear documentary evidence of occupation and genuine charitable use — the charity is launching RateWatch in July 2026.

RateWatch will establish a dedicated committee drawn from the third sector to support other charities and voluntary organisations that have secured property on peppercorn licences or similar arrangements for charitable purposes, only to face accusations from local authority rates departments that the premises are not being used. These challenges frequently result in the refusal of mandatory rates relief under Section 4 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962, even where the statutory test of “wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes” is clearly met.

The RateWatch committee will provide practical guidance, evidence templates, peer support, and collective advocacy to ensure that genuine charitable occupation is properly recognised and that the mandatory relief is applied consistently and fairly across Scotland. Eat Up invites other charities, community organisations, and third sector bodies that have encountered similar obstacles to join the committee and contribute to this important work.

We are working on a website or app or both www.ratewatch.online to be launched in the July/ August