- At Autumn Budget 2025, the government announced the business rates multipliers for the April 2026 rating list following the recent revaluation.
- From 1 April 2026, permanently lower business rates multipliers apply to retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. While multipliers are lower, the effect of the 2026 revaluation and the removal of the RHL discount still leaves many facing increased bills.
- Properties with rateable value of £500,000 face a new multiplier set 2.8p above the national standard multiplier. When combined with the effect of the 2026 revaluation, most of these properties face higher overall bills.
- To support ratepayers facing large bill increases at the revaluation, the government has introduced a re-designed Transitional Relief scheme - a package of support worth over £3.2 billion to be provided over the next three years.
- A package of support for pubs and live music venues was announced in January 2026, including a 15% business rates relief for all pubs and live music venues in 2026-27, on top of support announced at Budget 2025.
- Additionally, in July 2026, the government announced that a further reduction for pubs and live music venues would be made available. Full details on this relief, including funding, are due to be set out at the next budget.
- On a wider scale, the Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published in September 2025, set out priority areas for further potential reform. Following that, the government ran, until February 2026, a call for evidence seeking input on how the business rates system influences business investment decisions. This evidence will be used to inform policy development and design.
- In August 2026, the government launched an independent review of the valuation methodology used to assess pubs and hotels for business rates purposes.
- Timing: the new business rates multipliers and rateable values are applicable from 1 April 2026. The details of the July 2026 support package are expected at the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. The call for evidence on the valuation methodology for pubs and hotels closes on 16 October 2026.
Resources (click to open)
- Valuation Methodology Review for Pubs and Hotels (HM Treasury, August 2026)
- Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief (HMT, January 2026)
- Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet (HM Treasury, November 2025)
- Effects of the business rates retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers and high-value multiplier (HM Treasury, November 2025)
- Business Rates and Investment: Call for Evidence (HM Treasury, closed February 2026)
