Business rates are charged on non-domestic properties and business related items, including:
- shops
- offices
- pubs
- warehouses
- factories
- phone masts
- advertising hoardings
- ATM machines.
Business rates are to be paid by the occupier of the business premises. If the premises is empty, they are payable by the tenant or owner of the property.
If you work from home, rates are normally chargeable if you've structurally altered your property for business purposes.
The collection of business rates contribute toward the cost of services provided by us as a local authority.
Calculating your business rates
Business rates are worked out based on the rateable value of a property and the business rate multiplier set by the government.
Rateable value
Every non-domestic property has a rateable value set by the Valuation Office Agency. The rateable value is an estimate of the annual rent a property would demand if it was available to rent on the open market on a specific date.
Business rates charged from April 2026 use property values from 1 April 2024.
Business rates charged between April 2023 and March 2026 use property values from 1 April 2021.
Prior to April 2023, rates were calculated using property values as of the 1st April 2015.
Business rate multiplier
Business rates bills are calculated by multiplying the property rateable value by a figure set by the government each year. The multiplier figure depends on the rateable value and type of the property.
The ratepayer pays the multiplier amount for every £1 of rateable value.
From 1 April 2026 there will be three new multipliers as well as the existing small business and standard multipliers. There are two new lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, and a new multiplier for larger properties.
| Category and rateable value (RV) | Multiplier |
| Small business retail, hospitality and leisure, RV below £51,000 | 38.2 pence per pound |
| Standard retail, hospitality and leisure, RV £51,000 - £499,999 | 43.0 pence per pound |
| Small business multiplier (other sectors), RV below £51,000 | 43.2 pence per pound |
| Standard multiplier (other sectors), RV £51,000 - £499,999 | 48.0 pence per pound |
| High-value multiplier, all properties, RV £500,000 and above | 50.8 pence per pound |
Using the GOV.UK website, you can estimate your business rates bill and check the rateable value of a business property.
| Year | Rateable value | Multiplier |
| 2025-26 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2025-26 | £51,000 and above | 55.5 pence per pound |
| 2024-25 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2024-25 | £51,000 and above | 54.6 pence per pound |
| 2023-24 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2023-24 | £51,000 and above | 51.2 pence per pound |
| 2022-23 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2022-23 | £51,000 and above | 51.2 pence per pound |
| 2021-22 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2021-22 | £51,000 and above | 51.2 pence per pound |
| 2020-21 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.9 pence per pound |
| 2020-21 | £51,000 and above | 51.2 pence per pound |
| 2019-20 | £0 to £50,999 | 49.1 pence per pound |
| 2019-20 | £51,000 and above | 50.4 pence per pound |
| 2018-19 | £0 to £50,999 | 48 pence per pound |
| 2018-19 | £51,000 and above | 49.3 pence per pound |
| 2017-18 | £0 to £50,999 | 46.6 pence per pound |
| 2017-18 | £51,000 and above | 47.9 pence per pound |