Business rates multipliers

Changes to the multipliers from 1 April 2026

The council works out the business rates bill for a property by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate non-domestic multiplier. The Multipliers usually change every year in line with inflation. By law, they can't increase by more than the rate of inflation, except in the year of a revaluation.

When there is a revaluation, the multiplier is set at a level which keeps the total amount raised in rates the same as before, plus inflation for that year. Following revaluation, businesses facing a large increase or decrease come under transitional arrangements  Find out more about transitional arrangements and other reliefs

At Autumn Budget, 28 November 2025, the Chancellor confirmed that there will be five new multipliers, replacing the previous 2025/2026 standard (55.5p) and small business rates (49.9p) multipliers. These reflect both the type and property value of the business. 

From 1st April 2026, the five new multipliers for 2026 to 2027 as follows: 

1. Small business Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multiplier (SBRHLM): RHL businesses with RV below £51,000
2. Small business non-RHL multiplier (SBM): Non-RHL businesses with RRV below £51,000
3. Standard RHL multiplier (SRHLM): RHL businesses with RV between £51,000 and £499,999
4. Standard non-RHL multiplier (SM): Non-RHL businesses with RV between £51,000 and £499,999
5. High-value multiplier (HVM): For all properties with RV of £500,000 and above

Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £50,999 will have their bills calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the standard non-domestic rating multiplier. Those ratepayers who occupy qualifying retail, hospitality & leisure properties will have their bills calculated using the relevant retail, hospitality & leisure multiplier dependent on the rateable value, and a high-value multiplier for properties with rateable values of £500k and above. The current multipliers are shown on your bill. 

The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill limits how much the new multipliers can differ from current rates:the large property multiplier can’t exceed the standard multiplier by more than 10p

• the RHL multipliers can’t be more than 20p lower than the small business multiplier

The government also announced that a 1p Transitional Relief Supplement will apply in addition to the relevant multiplier to partially fund Transitional Relief. This will apply for one year from 1 April 2026. 

You can find more information on the eligibility criteria for Retail Hospitality & Leisure Multiplier and how to apply at Retail Hospitality and Leisure Multiplier 2026-27

Previous years' Business Rates multipliers

Prior to 1 April 2024 the standard multiplier was used for all empty properties and where the ratepayer was in receipt of mandatory rate relief