Governance

HOLBA is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. It is governed by a board of representatives from across the HOLBA community.  

It is funded by, and consist of, occupiers (non-domestic rate payers) and property owners in the district.   

The BID rules provide the basis for calculating the BID levy and identifying voter eligibility.  

BID rules 

Property Owner 

The liability for the BRS-BID levy (Business Rate Supplement-BID levy) will fall upon the owner of a leasehold interest granted for a term of 75 years or more or, in the absence a relevant lessee, the freeholder as identified from the records held on His Majesty’s Land Registry. This rule applies on the total term length of the lease.

The BID rules are:

• The BRS-BID term will be five years from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030 
• The BRS-BID levy will be applied to rated properties with a rateable value of £130,000 or more
• The BRS-BID levy will be a fixed rate of 1.5% of rateable value as of 1 April 2025 using the 2023 business rating list, rising annually by 0.03 percentage points (i.e. 1.53% in year 2, 1.56% in year 3, 1.59% in year 4, 1.62% in year 5)
• A levy payer will not be liable to pay more than £50,000 on any hereditament in each BID in any financial year (1 April-31 March)
• Where the rateable value for individual hereditaments (rated properties) changes and results in a lower BRS-BID levy, it will only come into effect from the start of the financial year in which the change is made
• Charitable incorporated organisations (UK-registered charities) that are eligible owners will receive 80% reduction on the BRS-BID levy
• Any exemptions for vacant listed properties in the ratepayer BID do not apply to the BRS-BID
• Organisations liable for BRS-BID levy that are also the ratepayer for the property will be liable for both the BRS-BID levy and the ratepayer BID levy in full. No discount or relief is applicable
• The BRS-BID levy will not be increased other than as specified in these levy rules
• There will be no VAT charged on the BRS-BID levy
• The BRS-BID levy is to be paid in full within 14 days of receipt of invoice 
• The liability for the daily BRS-BID levy will fall on the eligible property owner (see owner definition section)