- 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.
- 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 2026 (the date yet to be announced).
Resources (click to open)
- 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)
