Business Rates FAQs
- Small Business Multiplier – 43.2p
For properties with a rateable value under £51,000. - Standard Multiplier – 48.0p
For properties with a rateable value of £51,000 up to and including £499,999 - Small Business Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Multiplier – 38.2p
For RHL properties with a rateable value under £51,000. - Standard Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Multiplier – 43.0p
For RHL properties with a rateable value of £51,000 up to and including £499,999. - High Value Multiplier – 50.8p
For properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more. - Small Business Rate Relief, and/or
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief.
- Support will be capped at the higher of £800 or the relevant transitional relief caps.
- The scheme will operate for three years, with the current SSB scheme (ending 31 March 2026) extended for an additional year.
- Only occupied properties are eligible.
- Charities and community amateur sports clubs are not eligible.
What are Business rates?
Business rates (also called non-domestic rates “NDR)” are a tax paid on most buildings and spaces that are not used as homes — for example, shops, offices, warehouses and other commercial properties.
Since 1 April 2013, under the business rates retention scheme, local authorities keep a small share of the business rates they collect. The rest goes to Central Government and the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Business rates help fund important local services alongside Council Tax, fees and charges, and Government grants. These services include things like tackling homelessness, collecting waste and recycling, keeping parks maintained, and providing environmental health services.
How are Business Rates calculated?
The council does not set these rates - the rateable value of your business premises is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). This value is based on the estimated open market rental value of the property on a specific date. You can look up the rateable value for your property using the VOA’s online service.
Business properties are revalued every three years. The next revaluation takes effect on 1 April 2026, and you will be able to view your proposed 2026 rateable value using the link above once it is published.
Your Business Rates bill is calculated by multiplying your property’s rateable value by the applicable ‘multiplier’ — a figure set each year by the Government — and then subtracting any reliefs or reductions you qualify for. The multipliers used will be shown on the front of your bill.
The Government sets the multipliers for all of England before each financial year . There are currently two multipliers, but this will increase to five from 1 April 2026, as announced in the Government’s Autumn Statement. Further details are provided below.
What are the proposed changes to Business Rates for 2026/27?
At the Government’s Budget on 26 November 2025, several changes were announced for Business Rates from 1 April 2026 (subject to regulations).
New multipliers
From 1 April 2026, five multipliers will apply:
Guidance on what counts as a retail, hospitality or leisure property for these multipliers can be found at: Properties that qualify for the RHL multipliers.
Transitional Relief
Transitional relief will help ratepayers who would otherwise see large increases in their bills after the 2026 revaluation. This support will last for up to three years.
For properties that do not qualify for transitional relief or Supporting Small Business Relief, a 1p supplement will be charged for one year to help fund the transitional relief scheme.
Supporting Small Business (SSB) Relief
SSB Relief will support businesses that, due to the revaluation, lose some or all of their entitlement to:
Key points:
Electric Vehicle Charging Points Relief
A new 10-year relief will apply to eligible electric vehicle charging points and EV-only forecourts. Properties that qualify will have no Business Rates liability during this period.
Small Business Rate Relief on additional properties
Businesses currently allowed to take on a second property without immediately losing their Small Business Rate Relief will see this protection extended from one year to three years.
When will I receive my 2026/27 bill?
The exact date your 2026/27 Business Rates bill will be issued depends on the timing of essential software updates needed to apply the changes announced in the Government’s Budget. However, we currently expect bills to be sent out in March 2026. Updated information will be published on our Business Rates webpage: Business Rates – London Borough of Harrow, when available.
If you qualify for any reductions or reliefs, these will be shown on your bill wherever possible. You should also check that the multiplier used for your property for 2026/27 is correct, based on the changes announced in the Budget and outlined above.
Business rates advice and support?
If you pay Business Rates, you may be entitled to a reduction, relief, or exemption. You can find full details online at: Business rate reliefs and exemptions – London Borough of Harrow.