Following today’s budget announcement key updates are:
Business Rates Relief for Pubs, Social Clubs & Live Music Venues
As of 1st April 2027 the relief for pubs, social clubs and all but very large live music venues in England will increase from 15% to 35%.
Large music venues (with a rateable value of £1million or above) will not receive this increased rate of relief but will continue to benefit from the 15% set in 2026-27 and real-term freeze in 2027-28 and 2028-29 as announced in January.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL)
- Small Business Rates Relief eligibility thresholds for qualifying RHL properties in England from 1 April 2027. The threshold for 100% relief will increase to a rateable value of £18,000 and the threshold for tapered relies will increase to a rateable value of £21,000.
- Freeze business rates bills increases for two years. Qualifying RHL properties in England will be capped by CPI inflation in 2027-28 and 2028-29. This does not apply to increases in rateable values resulting from improvements or losses in other reliefs.
Supporting Small Business (SSB) Scheme
The government is extending the 2026 Supporting Small Business (SSB) Scheme in England to those who were in receipt of the 2023 SSB for one year from 1st April 2027.
Transitional Relief Supplement (TRS)
From 1st April 2027 there will be an extension to the 1p TRS for two years. This will be paid each year by those seeing bill increases otherwise below the TRS and SSB caps.
Valuation Tribunal removal of appeal fees
The £150 and £300 fees charged by the Valuation Tribunal in England for non-domestic rating appeals will be abolished. This will apply to the 2026 rating list. Future lists will enable fees already paid for appears on the 2026 list to be refunded.
Removing reliefs for vape shops and Adult Gaming Centres
As of April 2027 in England, Adult Gaming Centres will no longer be eligible for the RHL multipliers and vape shops will no longer be eligible for RHL multipliers or SSB relief.
Funding Local Authority costs for anti-avoidance litigation
From April 2027, Local authorities are to be reimbursed for external legal costs incurred in unsuccessful cases that challenge business rates avoidance and rest a point of law.
Other
- The latest budget sees the introduction of the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) for business rates in England as soon as possible.
- The government is to publish the findings from Business Rates and Investment: Call for evidence summarising views on how business rates affect investment in England.
- The government will legislate to enable the Mayor of London to establish a successor to the Elizabeth Line Business Rates Supplement with ballot arrangements no more restrictive than the general ballot provisions in the Business Rates Supplements Act 2009 as originally enacted.
If you have any queries or require any advice, please get in touch with us on 0800 122 3050 or email us enquiries@sw.co.uk.
