Is your Business Rates bill increasing this year?

The largest rises are being seen across industrial units, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities, reflecting updated rental evidence and a re-basing of values that have disproportionately affected the operational and production space. The data for power plants and the wider energy sector has not yet been published by the Valuation Office, but we anticipate seeing a sharp increase here also.

Rate changes to be aware of:

Updated Multipliers:

• The 2026 business rates revaluation will reset rateable values based on current property markets. As part of this, the standard national business rates multiplier will reduce, and the small business multiplier will also fall.

High-Value Multiplier:

• To fund the lower rates for smaller Retail Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties, a new higher business rates multiplier will apply to properties with rateable values above £500,000.

Transitional Relief Scheme:

• A redesigned Transitional Relief scheme will run for three years to cap sharp increases in business rates bills following the revaluation.

The 2026 Revaluation will become live on the 1st of April 2026. Therefore, now is the ideal time to review both the 2023 & 2026 Rating Lists and take proactive steps. RCK’s property division specialises in reducing and managing business rates, with a strong track record in representing industrial clients. RCK work on a strict results-orientated, no win no fee basis, and pride ourselves on being entirely client focused, ensuring the lion’s share of any savings achieved is passed straight back to our clients.

By acting before 31 March 2026, RCK can help businesses recover cash from overpayments made in the past three years and reduce future liabilities from 1 April onwards. If you do not challenge your business rates before the 31st of March 2026 you will lose out on the opportunity to backdate any reductions to the 1st of April 2023.

Finally, from 2026, ratepayers will be subject to a new Duty to Notify as part of business rates reform. This places a legal obligation on businesses to inform the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of any changes to their property that could affect its rateable value, such as physical alterations, changes in use, or occupancy changes. Notifications must be submitted through the VOA’s online service within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply may result in financial penalties and backdated liabilities. The measure is intended to improve the accuracy of valuations and support more frequent revaluations.

If you haven’t had your rates reviewed in the last 3 years and would like a 15-minute, obligation-free call with the RCK team to assess eligibility, please contact Alex Gook at [email protected].

Again, the initial challenge needs to be submitted to the Valuation Office by the 31^{st of} March 2026, so acting quick is imperative.