Business Rates Revaluation 2026

Business rates 2026 revaluation

Every three years the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) updates the rateable values of over 2 million commercial properties in England and Wales. This process reflects changes in the market and is known as a revaluation. The next revaluation will come into effect on 1 April 2026.

Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date. For the 2026 revaluation, that date is 1 April 2024. Your rateable value isn’t the same as the rent you are paying on your property.

As your local council, we use these rateable values to calculate business rates bills.

At a revaluation, business rates bills may increase, decrease or stay the same. A rise in your rateable value does not necessarily mean your business rates bill will increase by a similar amount.

In England, from April 2026, the government will create two additional, lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Local councils will be responsible for deciding which businesses are eligible, in line with government guidance.

Contacting the Valuation Office Agency

As your local council, we are responsible for anything to do with your business rates bill including adding any relief you might be eligible for.

The VOA is responsible for the valuation of your property. You should contact the VOA with any questions about your property’s rateable value.

Finding your rateable value

You can now view your property’s current and future rateable value through the VOA’s find a business rates valuation service on GOV.UK. You can use this service to see the details the VOA holds for your property and compare your property’s rateable value with similar properties in the area.

You can also get an estimate of what your future business rates bill might be from 1 April 2026. This gives you an indication of what your business rates bill might be and may not take into account any relief you might be eligible for.

What to do if you think your valuation is incorrect

If you think your valuation is wrong or want to make any changes to your property details (such as floor area sizes and parking) you will need a business rates valuation account.

While you can’t challenge your 2026 valuation until 1 April, you can update the details the VOA has about your property or tell them if you think your valuation is wrong. You do this by raising a Check against your current valuation using your business rates valuation account.

Any changes made to your current valuation could result in your rateable value going up or down. This may also affect your future valuation from 1 April 2026.

You have until 31 March 2026 to request any changes to your current rateable value using your business rates valuation account. After 1 April 2026 you will only be able to make changes to your new valuation.

Frequently asked questions

Revaluation is the term used to describe the regular review of rateable values for all non-domestic properties in England and Wales.

Revaluation takes account of any changes in the rental market and redistributes the total amount of business rates paid between different properties to reflect those changes.

Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties. Properties like:

shops
offices
pubs
warehouses
factories
holiday rental homes or guest houses
beach huts
stables.

You’ll probably have to pay business rates if you use a building, part of a building or land for non-domestic purposes.

The VOA values a property by its rateable value. Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date. For the 2026 revaluation, that date is 1 April 2024.

To calculate the rateable value, the VOA analyses the rental property market to ensure that rateable values reflect the market accurately.

Legally, it’s not possible to challenge your valuation until 1 April 2026, which is the date the 2026 rating list takes effect.

It is still possible to update the details the VOA has about of your property or tell them if you think your valuation is wrong raising a Check against your 2023 valuation. You can do this through your business rates valuation account.

You can also compare your property’s rateable value with similar properties in the area and check how the valuation was calculated. The VOA has improved how they display this information to make it easier for you to understand how your property’s rateable value was calculated.

The revaluation date for 2026 is 1 April 2024. The government sets the valuation date usually two years before a revaluation to allow time for data collection and analysis.

Your bill is calculated by taking your rateable value and multiplying this by a value known as a multiplier. This is set by the UK Government in England and the Welsh Government in Wales.

You can now see your property’s future rateable value and get an estimate of what your business rates bill may be from 1 April 2026.

Find a business rates valuation service on GOV.UK.

If a property has changed, for example its floor size is different, then you can tell the VOA using a business rates valuation account. There is information explaining how to set up a business rates valuation account on GOV.UK.

If you think your future rateable value is too high, you can get in touch with the VOA using a business rates valuation account. While you can't challenge your 2026 valuation until 1 April, you can let us know the details we hold about your property are wrong by raising a Check against your 2023 valuation.

Any changes made to your 2023 valuation could result in your rateable value going up or down. This may also affect your future valuation from 1 April 2026.

You must continue to pay your business rates as normal until a decision has been made on your case. If you are due a refund when your case is resolved this will be calculated and issued by your local council.

When calculating a rateable value, the VOA considers how much a property could be let for, on a set date. The rateable value of properties can vary for a number of reasons like size or location.

There are several types of business rates relief. You can find further information on GOV.UK.

Some reliefs are applied automatically and some you need to apply for. You should never have to pay anyone to apply for a relief.

You can manage your business rates yourself. If you want to appoint an agent, the VOA has published information about how to choose a business rates agent.

If you want to authorise an agent to act on your behalf, you can appoint one using a business rates valuation account.

Get more information on everything you need to know about this revaluation on the VOA’s website.