Business Rates

The Rateable Values

Apart from properties which are exempt from Business Rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is normally set by the Valuation Officers of the Valuation Office Agency ( VOA ), an agency of the HM Revenue and Customs. It draws up and maintains a full list of all rateable values, which are available on their website.

The rates charged on non-domestic (business) premises are calculated by multiplying the Rateable Value by a rate in the pound known as the Multiplier. The rateable value is fixed by the Valuation Office Agency who are independent of the Council.

The rateable value of your property will be shown on the front of your bill. The rateable value broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1st April 2005, this date was set as 1st April 2003. Currently all non domestic properties are re-valued every 5 years and the next general revaluation takes effect from 1 April 2010.

The Rating List shows the value of each property, which we use to calculate the rates paid to us.  Values may be viewed on the Valuation Office Agency website.

The Valuation Officer maintains the list and may alter the value if he or she believes that the circumstances of the property have changed.

The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Further information on making an appeal can be found on the VOA website or from your local Valuation Office.

The effect of successful appeals against values shown in the rating list that came into force on 1st April 2005 will normally be backdated to the beginning of the financial year in which they are made, although there are exceptions to this. Further information may be obtained from the VOA website.