What are drainage rates?

Drainage rates are levied by Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) as a charge on agricultural land and property (a rate of x pence in the £1) in an internal drainage district. The rates are levied to pay for essential maintenance and capital works carried out by the internal drainage board of that district. The value on which rates are set are based on 1991 land rental values.

A 15p in the £1 rate on a 100-acre field with a £50/acre 1991 rental value would be:

0.15 x 100 x £50 = £750.