Business Rates:
The Post-Budget Debrief

Seven days after the Autumn ’26 Budget, we hosted a Debrief webinar that went ‘beneath the spin’… and enabled commercial landlords and others to see how they were really impacted by the latest changes to Business Rates.

In this concise online briefing, Shaylesh Patel, founder of ASTOP, is joined by Tom Perry, Business Rates expert from Holloway Bond.

Together they break down the ramifications of the Chancellor’s statement, outlining how landlords and property managers can position themselves for a smoother, more compliant way forward – in 2026 and beyond.

What the Budget didn’t tell you about Business Rates

Transitional relief masks the true costs

RHL and Small businesses feel the hit hardest

Empty Spaces are more likely - so know your best options

In summary

  • Transitional Relief Masks True Costs: The true cost is deferred, with bills potentially doubling by 2028/29.
  • Small Businesses Hit Hardest: Freezing SBRR will force many to pay business rates for the first time.
  • Commercial Voids are more likely: As occupiers will be hit hard by the change in business rates.
  • Charity-Led Option Becomes More Critical: It can now save landlords 60-70% on an empty property’s bill.

What determines your Rates bill – the five key factors

What determines your business rates bill

#1 – The RV (Rateable Value)

  • RV up by 20% on average

#2 – Multiplier

  • Based on: RV; RHL or not; occupied or not

#3 – Rates-reducing Relief

  • Freezing the SBRR threshold will push
    c. 92,000 businesses to pay business rates for the first time
  • RHL 40% relief has been removed

#4 – Occupancy

  • Commercial voids are now more likely 
  • Penalty multiplier for RHL that become unoccupied 

#5 – Transitional Relief

  • Masks & defers the full impact a little

WHAT WILL YOUR BILL BE? FOUR EXAMPLES

Example 1: Occupied RHL unit with £40k GBP RV in 25/26

(For the 12 months from April 2026)

  Rateable Value RV / Rates % change
Scenario #1 Reduces hugely (£30.5k) -24% / 0%
Scenario #2 Stays the same (£40k) 0% / +15%
Scenario #3 Reduces slightly (£35k) -12.5% / +14.5%
Scenario #4 Increases (to £48k or £80k) +20% or +100% / +15%

Example 2: Occupied RHL unit with £40k RV doubling to £80k

RV (Rateable Value) 25/26 Rates Payable Forthcoming Rates Bills
Current New 2025 – 2026 2026 – 2027 2027 – 2028 2028 – 2029
To 31 Mar 2026 From 01 Apr 2026 15% 25% 40%
£40k £80k £11,976 £13,772.40 £17,215.50 £24,101.70

HOW ARE YOUR ‘EMPTY RATE’ OPTIONS IMPACTED?

Empty Rates – five ‘already ineffective’ options

Mitigation tactic

  • Snail farms

  • Managed Insolvency (liquidators)

  • Guardians

  • SBRR (mates & multiple sham companies)

  • Box shifting

EXPECTED CHANGES

  • Tsar of GAAR

  • Faster fairer decisions that free up courts

  • Guardian of Company Law & SBRR

  • 7 - SBRR (mates & multiple sham companies)

  • 9 - Box shifting

five ones to watch

Mitigation tactic

  • Listed Buildings

  • RV less than 2900 (tiny rooms)

  • ’Next In Use’ by charities/ CASCs

  • Destroy the insides of the unit

  • Alleged place of worship

EXPECTED CHANGES

  • 1 year cap on Listed Buildings

  • 1 month cap on ‘Next in Use’

  • (Tsar) Tougher test on refurb costs

  • (Tsar) Human rights crimes

THESE EXPECTED CHANGES HAVE BEEN DEFERRED WHILE GOVERMENT UNDERGOES ANOTHER CONSULTATION

THE SOLUTION IT’S (NOW) MORE VITAL TO KNOW ABOUT

An option worth knowing – the charity-led solution

Ethical, flexible way to reduce ‘empty rates’ by 50% to 100%

Preferred solution for Insurance industry

Enables the achievement of ESG goals more swiftly & easily

Popular with councils & local communities

AND NOW?

It can reduce your bill by 60-70% (if RHL)

Because when you lose a RHL tenant…

The rates bill moves to you…

AND that bill increases by 11.6% as you lose the occupiers’ RHL relief.

GET IN TOUCH

See how you can ethically reduce the burden of empty commercial spaces

If you are an architect, developer or planner who is concerned about your potential liability to CIL (on a ‘change of use’ redevelopment where there’s been a long-term void) and are looking to protect your redevelopment’s viability, contact our team today.