Business rates - FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions 

Revaluation:

The VOA regularly updates the rateable values of all business and other non-domestic properties in England and Wales to reflect changes in the property market. This is called a ‘revaluation’. The next revaluation is due to come into effect on 1 April 2026, this will be based on rental values of 1 April 2024.

If customers believe their rateable value is incorrect. They need to do the following:

Transitional relief

If your rateable value has increased following a revaluation, you may be entitled to transitional relief,  this should have already been applied to your bill. However, if you believe if it has not, please contact our business rates team at nndr@harborough.gov.uk

 

Multipliers

The multiplier is the number your rateable value is multiplied by to get your charge. Currently there is a:

  • Standard business multiplier
  • Small business multiplier – for properties with a rateable value below £51,000

 

Changes to business rate multipliers from 1 April 2026

From 1 April 2026, the system will expand to five multipliers. These will reflect both business type and property value. The five new multipliers will apply as follows:

  • Small business RHL multiplier 38.2p: Retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) businesses with rateable values (RV) below £51,00
  • Small business multiplier 43.2p: Non-RHL businesses with RV below £51,000
  • Standard RHL multiplier 43.0p: RHL businesses with RV between £51,000 and £499,999
  • Standard multiplier 48.0p: Non-RHL businesses with RV between £51,000 and £499,999
  • Large property multiplier 50.8p: For all properties with RV of £500,000 and above 

For 2026/27 in England there is also a 1p supplement on each multiplier for 1 year only – Transitional Relief Supplement – this is applied to every bill for this financial year. However, it is then removed within the relief award apart from those that don’t qualify for Transitional Relief or Supporting Small Business Relief (SSB).

If customers believe they have been allocated the wrong multiplier, they need to email the business rates team with supporting evidence at nndr@harborough.gov.uk

Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief  

As of 1st April 2026, this scheme is no longer in operation. Instead, the government has put in place 2 multipliers specifically for the retail industry.

 

Supporting small business (SSB) relief 2023

This scheme was due to end on 31st March 2026, due to the revaluation of the local list However, the Government have extended this scheme for another year.

This will limit the increase in your charge for 2026/2027 to an additional £600.00 in comparison to your 2025/2026 bill. 

This would have automatically been applied to your 2026/2027 annual bill. However, should you believe this has not been awarded, please contact the Business rates team on nndr@harborough.gov.uk

 

Supporting small business (SSB) relief 2026

This scheme is similar to SSB23 in that it’s to assist customers that as a result of the new 2026 revaluation who have lost part or all of their Small Business Rates Relief, Rural Relief or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief.

This will limit the increase in your charge for 2026/2027 to an additional £800.00 in comparison to your 2025/2026 bill. 

Assessments must be occupied; however, Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs are not eligible for this scheme.

This would have automatically been applied to your 2026/2027 annual bill. However, should you believe this has not been awarded, please contact the Business rates team on nndr@harborough.gov.uk

 

Small Business Rates Relief:

If you (as a person or a company) occupy a single business rates property in England with a rateable value below £15,000, you may be entitled to a reduction of up to 100% in your business rates.

 

Pubs and Music Venues Business Rates Relief

The key elements are:

1.    Is a 15% business rates relief for eligible pubs and live music venues in England for the 2026/27 financial year (no cap on relief provided).
2.    Future years: Eligible properties’ bills will be frozen in real terms in 2027/28 and 2028/29. (Separate guidance will follow for those years).
3.    Individual reliefs over £100,000 must be reported on the UK Subsidy Database.

For more information on this relief visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/business-rates-pubs-and-live-music-venues-relief-local-authority-guidance

 

Instalments

Payment of business rates bills is automatically set on a 10-monthly cycle. However, the government has put in place regulations that allow ratepayers to request their local authority to enable payments to be made through 12 monthly instalments. If you wish to take up this offer, you should contact the business rates team, using the details on your bill.

Direct debits

Payments are due 1st each month, should customers require a different date, they would need to set up a direct debit.  

Key information required when customers informing us, they are moving out/ moving in our area:

Property Moving in To

· Name of Occupier

· Who is the caller in connection to the new occupier

· Are they a Sole Trader / Partnership / Limited Company - Reg Number

· Are you the Tenant or Owner

· If a Tenant – do you have the owner / Agents details

· Date of Purchase / Date tenancy commenced

· Was the property empty prior to you taking it

· Date stock / goods moved in

· Correspondence address

· Telephone Number

· Email address

· Type of Business

· Are you already registered at another address for Non-Domestic Rates – if so are you still there or have you now vacated

 

 

Property Moving Out From

· Name of Occupier

· Who is the caller in connection to the occupier

· Are you the Tenant or Owner

· If a Tenant – date lease ends

· If an Owner – date sale completed

· Name of Owner / New Owner

· Correspondence address for Owner / New Owner

· Date Stock / goods moved out

· Forwarding address

· Telephone number still correct

· Email address still correct