Estates Urged To Seek Rates Relief

While some shoots may face vastly increased fees as a result of Scottish land reform, others may escape the sporting rates entirely

Scottish landowners are being urged to take advantage of rates relief to avoid paying “eyewatering” new sporting fees. Scottish Assessors has issued notices to around 6,500 landowners after repealing rates exclusions on shoots and deer forests brought in by the Land Reform Act. The rates will apply to any landholding with sporting potential — regardless of whether shooting takes place there or not.

When the Land Reform Bill was first published in 2015, landowners argued that bringing back the rates would make estates unprofitable and force keepers out of work. However, there are options open to many estates, with some able to escape increased rates entirely.