Apart from properties that 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), which is an executive agency of HM Revenues and Customs. It compiles and maintains a full list of all rateable properties together with the associated rateable values, which are available on their website (voa.gov.uk).
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 2017 rating list this date was set at 1 April 2015. For the revaluation that came into effect on 1 April 2023, this date was set at 1 April 2021.
The Valuation Officer has to maintain 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 rateable value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.
Revaluation - 2023 Rating List
All rateable values are reassessed at a general revaluation. The 2023 revaluation takes effect from 1 April 2023. Revaluations make sure that each ratepayer pays their fair contribution and no more, by ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by any one ratepayer reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. Revaluation does not raise extra money for Government.
More information on the 2023 revaluation (gov.uk).
Business rates - check your rateable value
We use the rateable value provided by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to work out your business rates bill.
Check your rateable value and compare it with others (voa.gov.uk).
You can also get in touch if you need to let them know of any issues.
Liability
A ratepayer will be liable to pay business rates if he or she is in occupation of all or part of a property and the property is shown in the local rating list.
There is no statutory definition of the words 'occupier' or 'occupation' but for rating purposes, 'occupation' generally implies possession of the property.
The occupation of land or buildings may be joint, for example where a building is let to more than one person they are jointly liable for the whole building. However, where separate parts are let to separate persons, they can only be held liable for the part which they occupy.