Business Rates 2026

Business Rates is a local tax that is paid by the occupiers of all non-domestic / business properties. It is calculated using a property’s ‘rateable value’. The rateable value is based on a property’s estimated annual rental value on the open market.

Revaluation 2026

Revaluation of rateable values is conducted by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). It usually happens every 3 years. The previous revaluation came into effect on the 1 April 2023. A new revaluation has taken place which comes into effect from 1 April 2026.

The amount payable is calculated by multiplying the rateable value by the Uniform Business Rates Multipliers which are set by the Government.

Business Rates Changes

In November 2025, the Chancellor announced new multipliers to calculate Business Rates. These apply from 1st April 2026.

As well as the Small Business and Standard Multiplier there are three new multipliers. These are:

• Small Business Retail Hospital & Leisure (RHL)
• Standard Retail Hospital & Leisure (RHL) 
• Higher Value Multiplier.

The thresholds and amounts for these are in the below table.

 2026/27 Multipliers

The government has also released guidance on types of businesses it deems to fall into the category of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure [external link]

Please note: The council has reviewed its property database and determined which multiplier applies to each business. You do not need to complete an application form for these changes. Your bill will be adjusted automatically.

Pubs and live music venues relief

The government announced that in 2026-27, eligible pubs and live music venues will benefit from a 15% business rates relief. This is on top of the support announced at Budget 2025. Their bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further 2 years.

You can find out more about the support announced for pubs and live music venues relief [external link]

Please note: The council has reviewed its property database and identified which businesses qualify for this relief. This will show on the annual bill when issued in March. If you think this is not showing on your bill you can contact us via the enquiry form.

Other changes announced in the budget:

2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme (SSB relief)

This scheme caps any increase at the higher of £800 or the relevant transitional relief caps, from 1st April 2026

The SSB relief scheme has also been expanded to ratepayers losing the Retail Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief.

The government has also announced a one-year extension to the 2023 SSB Scheme from 1st April 2026.

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR)

The time businesses can keep their Small Business Rate Relief on their original property after taking on a second property has been extended from one year to three. This change applies to businesses that move into a second property on or after 27 November 2025.

Transitional Relief

The chancellor announced support for ratepayers facing large bill increases at the revaluation. This will see the phasing of the increase over a maximum of three years.

These caps will apply before changes in other reliefs and local supplements

Transitional Relief Supplement

A 1p increase will be added to the relevant multiplier for relevant hereditaments /   businesses properties that appeared in the Rating List on the 31/03/2026 and 01/04/2026. This will be shown on all accounts whether in transition or not. This increase helps fund the transitional relief scheme and will apply for one year only, from 1 April 2026.