Tell Landlord About Business Rates Appeal? 2026 Answer

If your lease doesn't require it, you don't have to tell your landlord before you appeal your business rates — liability for rates sits with the occupier, not the owner, under the standard rating rules that apply across England and Wales in 2026. Check your lease anyway: many commercial leases carry a clause obliging the tenant to notify the landlord about anything that touches the rateable value, and landlords who fold rates into a service charge usually want a heads-up before you file. Skipping that step when the lease says otherwise won't stop your appeal, but it can create friction at your next rent review or lease renewal.

TL;DR

No general legal duty to tell landlord about business rates appeal exists for most tenants in 2026.
Lease clauses on notification, service charge rates and rent reviews change the answer case by case.
Vacant premises flip liability to the landlord, who then handles the empty rates appeal themselves.
Appeal My Rates UK checks lease terms as part of reviewing whether an appeal is worth filing.

Why this matters

Getting this wrong has two failure modes. Tell the landlord when you didn't need to, and you've handed them information about your occupancy costs that might surface at the next rent negotiation. Don't tell them when your lease requires it, and you've technically breached the tenancy agreement over something that costs you nothing to disclose.

Before you decide either way, it's worth confirming whether the appeal is worth appealing in the first place — a marginal reduction rarely justifies the conversation with your landlord, but a genuine overvaluation usually does.

Do I need to tell my landlord about my business rates appeal?

Most tenants can start a Check, Challenge, Appeal case with the Valuation Office Agency without landlord sign-off. Rates liability is a matter between the ratepayer and the local authority — the landlord isn't a party to it unless your lease says otherwise.

Scenario	Tell the landlord?	Why
Standard commercial lease, tenant pays rates directly	No	Rates liability and appeal rights belong to the occupier
Lease includes a notification clause	Yes	Breaching a lease term risks a dispute separate from the rates case
Rates included in a service charge	Yes	A successful appeal changes what the landlord can recover from you
Rent review tied to rateable value	Check the clause	A lower rateable value can work for or against you at review
Property is vacant	Landlord's issue, not yours	Empty property rates liability sits with the owner

When you must tell your landlord

If your lease has an express covenant requiring notice of anything affecting the property's valuation, rates band, or occupation status, you're contractually bound to disclose the appeal — not because the rates system demands it, but because your tenancy agreement does. Ignoring that clause can give the landlord grounds for a separate dispute, unrelated to whether your appeal succeeds.

Verdict: tell them, and put it in writing.

When you don't need to tell your landlord

In a straightforward lease where you pay rates directly to the council and the lease is silent on valuation matters, the appeal is yours to run. The Valuation Office Agency deals with the ratepayer named on the bill, and that's typically you, not your landlord.

Verdict: no disclosure required, though nothing stops you mentioning it.

When telling your landlord helps your case

Even without a lease obligation, there's a practical case for disclosure. Landlords sometimes hold historic evidence about the property — previous rateable values, prior splits or merges, planning history — that strengthens an appeal. If Appeal My Rates UK is tracking your appeal case status on your behalf, a cooperative landlord who shares property records can shorten the evidence-gathering stage.

Verdict: optional, but often useful.

Check if your appeal is worth filing

A rating surveyor reviews your lease and valuation before you approach anyone.

Get your case reviewed

Why the answer varies

Lease wording — some leases specify notice periods and formats for any valuation-related action; others say nothing at all.
Service charge structure — if rates are pooled into a service charge, your landlord has a financial stake in the outcome.
Rent review clauses — a small number of leases link rent reviews to rateable value, making disclosure strategically relevant either way.
Occupation status — vacant premises shift rates liability to the landlord, changing who runs the appeal entirely.
Property splits or merges — where a unit has been divided or combined, both landlord and tenant records often need aligning before an appeal proceeds.
Lease length remaining — short-term tenants nearing lease end have less incentive to raise the topic with a landlord they're about to leave.

Who is liable for business rates, the landlord or the tenant?

The occupier is liable for business rates in almost every case, which is usually the tenant named on the lease, not the landlord. The one major exception is unoccupied property: once premises stand empty, liability for empty rates transfers to the owner, who then becomes the party with standing to appeal.

Does a business rates appeal affect my rent review?

A rates appeal can affect a rent review only if the lease explicitly ties rent to rateable value, which most standard commercial leases don't. Where no such link exists in 2026, changing your rateable value through Check, Challenge, Appeal has no bearing on what rent you owe.

Can my landlord appeal business rates ?

A landlord can appeal business rates , which typically only happens on vacant units or where the lease makes the landlord responsible for rates. However, the landlord is classed as an interested party by the VO and can submit a proposal if they wish even while you are occupying but this is very rare and if it does happen they should consult with tennants first.

FAQ

Do I need my landlord’s permission to appeal business rates?

No, you don’t need your landlord’s permission to appeal business rates in 2026 unless your lease specifically requires notice or consent for valuation matters. The appeal runs between you and the Valuation Office Agency.

Who pays business rates, the tenant or the landlord?

The tenant pays business rates in almost all occupied commercial properties, since liability follows occupation, not ownership. Landlords only become liable when the property is vacant.

Will a business rates appeal affect my landlord?

A business rates appeal only affects your landlord directly if rates are bundled into a service charge or the lease links rent to rateable value. Otherwise the outcome stays between you and the council.

What happens if I don’t tell my landlord about a rates appeal my lease requires me to disclose?

Skipping a disclosure your lease requires creates a separate breach-of-covenant issue, distinct from the rates appeal itself, which can give the landlord grounds for a dispute at renewal or review.

Can a business rates reduction lower my rent?

A business rates reduction lowers your rent only in the rare case where the lease explicitly ties rent reviews to rateable value; most leases in England and Wales set rent independently of rates.

Is a business rates appeal worth telling my landlord about anyway?

Telling your landlord isn’t required in most cases, but it’s worth doing when they hold property records — past rateable values, split or merge history — that could support your appeal.

Who appeals business rates on an empty property?

The landlord appeals business rates on an empty property because empty rates liability sits with the owner once the unit is vacant, not with any previous tenant.

Does my landlord find out if I appeal my business rates?

Your landlord doesn’t automatically find out if you appeal your business rates in 2026, since the Valuation Office Agency deals directly with the ratepayer and doesn’t notify third parties.

One last thing

The scenario people overlook: if your premises go vacant mid-appeal, the rules flip and your landlord becomes the ratepayer with the standing to run any further challenge, not you. If a unit split or merge is part of your situation, get the property records straightened out with the landlord before filing, because mismatched boundaries are one of the most common reasons a Check, Challenge, Appeal case stalls at the Valuation Office Agency.