The total revenue generated by business rates has risen by 10%, from £34 billion, to almost £38 billion.
From April 1, 2026, a new high-value business rates multiplier of 50.8p will apply to properties with rateable values (RV) of £500,000 or more, a 2.8p increase over the standard multiplier. Meanwhile, the standard and small business RHL multipliers will decrease, but this is cold comfort for many businesses whose higher rateable values will lead to increased bills regardless.
The core issue is the new 2026 Revaluation, based on property values from 2024, which have seen significant increases in many sectors, including the hospitality and retail sectors. For many businesses, the upward revaluation will far outweigh the permanent reduction in multipliers.
Below is a small selection of case studies, illustrating and highlighting just how adversely affected some of our existing client’s will be, financially, due to this new budget:
TRADE FABRICATION SYSTEMS
Total increase in rateable value over 4 occupied sites: £449,500
Additional annual cost to ratepayer: £220,000
Total increase in payable business rates over the next 3 years: £666,000
MOSS AUTOMOTIVE LTD
Increase in rateable value: £120,500
Additional annual cost to ratepayer: £58,000
Total increase in payable business rates over the next 3 years: £174,000
B HEPWORTH LTD
Increase in rateable value: £78,000
Additional annual cost to ratepayer: £32,000
Total increase in payable business rates over the next 3 years: £100,000
SONOCO BOARDS MILLS LTD
Increase in rateable value: £94,000
Additional annual cost to ratepayer: £42,000
Total increase in payable business rates over the next 3 years: £126,000
ASCOTTS TAXIS LTD
Increase in rateable value: £78,500
Additional annual cost to ratepayer: £33,000
Total increase in payable business rates over the next 3 years: £99,000