Business Rates Changes in England 2026/27
Appeal My Rates UK
What changed in the November Budget?
The world of business rates in England saw the biggest overhaul since before Covid with many changes to multipliers and support schemes. Some of the changes will undoubtedly have an adverse effect on businesses which are also seeing rises in the actual rateable values of their properties. The government did introduce some support and relief schemes to soften the blow but its fair to say that in a lot of cases businesses are going to be worse off come April 1st 2026.
From 1 April 2026, England uses five business rates multipliers:
Lower RHL Multiplier of 38.2p applying to qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value under £51,000
Higher RHL Multiplier of 43p to those above £51,000 and below £500,000
Standard Multiplier of 43.2p applying to all other businesses below £51,000
National Multiplier of 48p to all others above £51,000 and below £500,000
Higher Multiplier of 50.8p for all properties with a rateable value over £500,000
For the financial year 2026-27 there will also be an additional 1p supplement added.
These multipliers are lower than the previous year, but the 40% retail discount ended on 31 March 2026. Some businesses may therefore still face a substantial increase.
The relief schemes are complex, and local councils must apply several interacting rules correctly. We have developed our own software to calculate liabilities and help ensure clients receive the reliefs they are eligible for.
In simple terms, if you currently get retail relief, rural relief, supporting small business relief or small business relief you should pay no more than £800 more next year than you currently pay or the transitional relief amount if it applies – whichever is the greater.
There are far too many variables and technical rules to go into any more detail here but if you want to find out what you will be paying next year then please get in touch for a free assessment from us.
What changed from 1 April 2026?
The 1 April 2026 revaluation changed the rateable values of properties in England and Wales. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of HMRC, set those values using rental evidence gathered before the revaluation. The previous revaluation took effect in 2023.
Why have some rates risen while others have fallen?
The date set as the benchmark for this revaluation was in 2024, with the effects of Covid on the rental markets now over, rents have risen, especially in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors so expect to see some large rises there. Demand for industrial space has also been strong, especially warehousing and rateable values have once again risen to reflect this.
Can I challenge the current rates?
Yes. If you have a case you can submit a challenge via the VOA`s check challenge process but we would always advise that you seek advice first as rates can go up as well as down if you challenge them. Contact us for a free appraisal and if you have a case we will propose a contract with success fees related to savings in rates payable.
Can I still challenge the old 2023 rating list?
No. The deadline to submit a new Check proposal against the 2023 rating list was 31 March 2026. That list is now closed to new proposals.