Business rates changes for 2026/27

Changes to business rates multipliers

Your business rates bill is calculated by multiplying the rateable value of your property by a multiplier. Currently, there are two multipliers:

• The small business multiplier for properties with a rateable value below £51,000 is 0.499
• The standard multiplier for properties with an rateable value of £51,000 and above is 0.555

From April, these will be replaced with with five multipliers that reflect both property use (retail, hospitality and leisure use or non-retail, hospitality and leisure use) and rateable value. A higher multiplier will apply to high-value properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more.

The multipliers from 1 April 2026 are as follows:

Supplement for a new transitional relief scheme

A new transitional relief scheme will be funded by a 1p supplement added to bills in the 2026/27 financial year. This means that an additional amount of 0.01 will be used when calculating your rates bill.

For example 0.01 multiplied by a property with a rateable value of £12,000 would be a £120 supplement to pay (0.01 x 12,000 = £120).

This supplement will apply for one year only from 1 April 2026.

Removal of discretionary 40% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure

In 2025/26 there was a discretionary 40% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure properties. The government has announced this will be discontinued from April 2026.

The new retail multipliers above, are intended to replace the retail, hospitality and leisure relief which has been offered in recent years.

The criteria for the retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers aligns with the current criteria for retail, hospitality and leisure relief. However, there are some differences:

• The current retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme is discretionary, however, the criteria for the new retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers is now set in law. It is mandatory for us to apply it, where the criteria are met
• The reduction offered by the multipliers will not be counted as a government subsidy, so it will not be part of the UK's subsidy control rules

Please visit the GOV.UK - guidance on retail, hospitality and leisure relief for more detailed information.

Properties affected in Rushmoor

We have reviewed our database to determine which properties will be eligible for the retail, hospitality and leisure relief multipliers. Your 2026/27 bill will show which multiplier has been used to calculate your bill.

If you believe that we have used the wrong multiplier please contact us at businessrates@rushmoor.gov.uk.

Support from the government

The government knows that some businesses will experience large increases in their bills as a result of the changes to business rates. There are schemes in place to make sure that these increases are phased in gradually.

Transitional relief scheme

Some properties will have significant increases in their rateable values, as part of the business rate revaluation for 2026.

The transitional relief scheme helps to make sure that large increases in bills are phased in gradually. It provides a limit on the amount that a bill can increase by, as a result of revaluation. 

Maximum increases which are allowed under the transitional relief scheme in each financial year from 2026/27:

Supporting small business relief

There is a supporting small business scheme for businesses which are facing an increase in their bill, because they have lost some or all of their:

• Small business rate relief
• Rural rate relief
• Retail, hospitality and leisure relief
• 2023 supporting small business relief

If you qualify for supporting small business relief, in 2026/27 your bill will increase by no more than the greater of the following:

• £800
• or the cap in the table below, based on the rateable value of your property

If you are entitled to transitional relief or supporting small business relief, it will be applied to your bill automatically. You do not need to apply.

Business rates support for pubs

There will be a new business rates support package for pubs and live music venues. If your business is eligible, you will receive a 15% discount on your business rates bill in 2026/27.

Please visit our business rates support for pubs page for more information.

Other Changes

Small business rates relief on second properties

Previously, if you were claiming small business rates relief and you took on a second property you could continue to receive small business rates relief on the first property for up to one year. From 2026/27 this will be extended to three years, as long as you took on the second property on or after 27 November 2025.

Electric vehicle charging point relief

There will be a 100% business rates relief for electric vehicle charging points and electric vehicle only forecourts. This will last for 10 years, from April 2026.