Christchurch’s Ultimate Winter 2026 What’s On Guide is Here!
28/10/2026
The Government has announced a number of changes to Business Rates as part of the 2026 Budget, which will take effect from 1 April 2027.
What is changing?
The Government has announced that the Small Business Rates Relief threshold for retail, hospitality and leisure properties will increase from £12,000 to £18,000 rateable value, with the taper increasing from £15,000 to £21,000 rateable value.
The government says the change takes 70,000 more businesses out of business rates. Offices, workshops and other property types keep the current thresholds, and the new limits run until 31 March 2029. Half of shops, restaurants and gyms pay none at all. The detail sits in a Business Rates Information Letter the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government sent to councils the same day. This guide explains who qualifies, when it starts and what else changed.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/82026-details-of-the-budget-package-and-the-multipliers-for-20272028/82026-details-of-the-budget-package-and-the-multipliers-for-20272028
In the Christchurch BID area, up to 146 select businesses will now be below the 18,000 rateable value threshold and will not pay business rates from April 2027
A real-terms freeze for two years until 31st March 2029.
Eligible properties will have their business rates bills capped by CPI inflation in 2027/28 and 2028/29. This does not apply to increases in rateable values resulting from improvements.
Changes for vape shops and adult gaming centres
From April 2027, vape shops and adult gaming centres will no longer qualify for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure support measures. Vape shops will also become ineligible for Small Business Rates Relief.
What do you need to do?
You do not need to take any action at this time.
The Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers for 2027/28
The government has advised that they will be:
standard non-domestic rating multiplier: 49.7p
small business non-domestic rating multiplier: 44.7p
standard RHL multiplier: 44.7p
small business RHL multiplier: 39.7p
high-value non-domestic rating multiplier: 52.5p
