Home-based businesses can now apply for coronavirus grants

People that run their business from home and have been impacted by coronavirus can now apply to Havant Borough Council (HBC) for a fourth (and definitely final) round of discretionary grants.

The criteria have now been extended to include people running businesses from their home that are a registered Council Tax payer in the borough and can demonstrate a loss of income due to coronavirus. All of the criteria for previous rounds still apply.

Home-based businesses should be registered as a business at HMRC or VAT registered (or both), with some form of evidence of paying Public Liability Insurance (and registered with HBC if appropriate).

Eligible businesses also include bed and breakfasts run from a home.

Applications from businesses working from homes (other than bed and breakfasts) will be reviewed on fixed business expenses rather than residential costs like a mortgage or rent.

Applications to the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund are open now and will close at midnight on Thursday 27 August.

Councillor Mark Inkster, HBC portfolio holder for Finance, said:

“With the deadline for giving out these grants fast approaching, we have made one final bid to make more of the borough’s businesses eligible.

“We have been contacted by home-based businesses during previous rounds of grants and I’m very happy to say we’ve been able to make this change to include them as eligible for the discretionary grants.

“These grants can be a lifeline to those businesses that have struggled during the coronavirus crisis and I hope that we are able to give out all of the remaining money during this round.”

For eligibility criteria and to apply visit: www.havant.gov.uk/discretionary-grant-scheme

Businesses looking for support through grants or information about other government schemes should visit: www.havant.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support