Business rates in Durham County: is your bill too high?
16,239 business properties in Durham County have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £6,900. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Durham County. Price per m² is rateable value divided by floor area, where the Valuation Office publishes a summary valuation.
| Type | Properties | Median RV | Median £/m² | Middle half £/m² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shops | 3,460 | £6,000 | £76 | £54–£111 | More |
| offices | 2,358 | £4,750 | £86 | £70–£117 | More |
| workshops | 2,034 | £8,050 | £54 | £40–£68 | More |
| warehouses | 771 | £17,250 | £46 | £33–£61 | More |
| factories | 441 | £45,500 | £39 | £30–£49 | More |
| restaurants | 155 | £27,250 | £159 | £98–£275 | More |
| cafés | 105 | £8,700 | £95 | £68–£161 | More |
| pubs | 412 | £12,500 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 373 | £4,100 | £81 | £60–£105 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 203 | £8,200 | £39 | £30–£51 | More |
| business units | 8 | £8,050 | £69 | £65–£73 | More |
| day nurseries | 81 | £17,250 | £79 | £63–£100 | More |
Questions about business rates in Durham County
How are business rates worked out in Durham County?
Your council multiplies your rateable value (set by the Valuation Office) by a multiplier, then takes off any reliefs. For 2026/27 in England the multipliers run from 38.2p (small retail, hospitality and leisure) to 50.8p (rateable values of £500,000+).
Is my business rates bill too high in Durham County?
The quickest way to tell is to compare the price per m² the Valuation Office applied to your property with similar properties nearby. Our free check does that in seconds using the published 2026 list.
Can I challenge it myself?
Yes. You claim your property in a GOV.UK business rates valuation account, raise a Check, then Challenge within 4 months of the decision. Our evidence pack (£99) gives you the comparables and statement to upload.
Many no-win-no-fee rating agents charge 25% to 50% of what you save, sometimes for every year of the list.
Illustration: if a challenge cut a bill by £2,000 a year for three years, a 35% fee would be £2,100. Our RV under £51,000 pack is £99. Your result could be higher, lower or nothing.
- RV under £51,000
- £99
- RV £51,000–£149,999
- £199
- RV £150,000–£499,999
- £349
One-off, VAT included. You keep 100% of any saving.
Fee terms published by UK rating agents, surveyors and a trade-body partner service, checked October 2026. Some agents charge less (from 10%, sometimes capped) and some add upfront fees. Agents do the work for you, and RICS-regulated surveyors can be worth it for complex or high-value properties. Full comparison.
Aggregate statistics computed from the Valuation Office’s Rating List Downloads (2026 list) for non-domestic rating purposes. Individual properties are shown only through the free check. Not affiliated with the Valuation Office. Data notice