A BOLTON estate agent has expressed 'concern' after it was revealed firms like his will not benefit from the scrapping of business rates announced in the budget last week.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak stated that business rates will be dropped for companies in the retail, leisure and hospitality industry with a rateable value of less than £51,000 for a year. However, this does not include estate agents.

Mr Sunak said that this would save businesses up to £25,000 each and would help them if customer levels dropped because of the coronavirus.

But Andrew Cardwell, of Cardwells Estate Agents, which has a branch in Bolton, is concerned about the impact coronavirus will have on the property market and says firms like his should be included in the moves by the chancellor.

Mr Cardwell said: “It is a bit frustrating. When I saw the outlines I thought, this will really help us out, but it’s not made any difference to our industry.

“It’s excluding estate agents. It’s designed to help shops and the retail industry. But most estate agents look like shops anyway. We have a shop window just like everyone else.

“With this new policy, estate agents will still have to pay the business rates each month while the occupants of similar properties will not.

“Travel agents and funeral parlous get to benefit from it, but we do not. Betting shops do as well. I know these business are a lot more popular but it does seem unfair.

“I understand the wider situation and I know I’m very lucky; I am well, my family is well, generally the local community seems to be doing ok.

“But it is having an impact on our business and scrapping the business rates would help a lot. Brexit damaged the economy and now coronavirus is having an affect.

“We’ve had people cancelling appointments and we’re taking certain measures surrounding it.We’re also doing our bit to help the local community, at our Bolton Office we are collecting tinned goods, none perishable food and hygiene products for Urban Outreach, we are open seven days a week to collect any donations.

“This is going to be a hard time for many businesses and it is great that there is help for a large number of businesses and employers, but I guess selfishly, I wish my business could have been included too.

“This disappointment will not deter us, and we will continue to provide the best possible service that we can.”