Business rates

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) regularly update the rateable values of all businesses and other non-domestic properties (properties that are not just private homes). This is called a revaluation.

Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date - for the 2023 valuation, this was 1 April 2021.

We use these rateable values to calculate business rate bills.

Revaluations are carried out to reflect changes in the property market, which means that business rates bills are based on more up-to-date information.

The last revaluation came into affect on 1 April 2023.

Contacting the Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

We're responsible for anything to do with your business rates bill.

The VOA is responsible for the valuation of your property - you should contact the VOA with any queries about your rateable value:

• to find your rateable value use the VOA - Find a business rates valuation service

How do I appeal against a rateable value?

• if you think your rateable value is too high, or the area included in the assessment is incorrect, you will need to use a business rates valuation account to tell the VOA
• appeals against a rateable value should be submitted to the VOA, not the Council. Details about the process can be found on their website Valuation Office Agency - Check and Challenge
• please be aware that there are no provisions within the regulations to with hold payment of business rates, even if you have an appeal outstanding

How COVID-19 affected future rateable values

The VOA bases most rateable values on an estimate of what it would cost to rent a property for a year, starting on a certain date.

For the 2023 valuation, that date was 1 April 2021 - this was during the pandemic and the rent information the VOA used reflected this.