Sector guide · England and Wales · 2026/27

Business rates for offices (2026/27)

Offices pay business rates at the standard multipliers: 43.2p under £51,000 and 48p from £51,000 in England for 2026/27. They aren’t covered by the retail, hospitality and leisure rates. Small offices can still get small business rate relief, and a single office worth £12,000 or less pays nothing.

Which multiplier applies

Office property generally uses the standard multipliers: 43.2p under £51,000, 48p from £51,000 to £499,999, 50.8p from £500,000.

Rateable value (England, 2026/27)	Standard	Retail, hospitality and leisure
Under £51,000	43.2p	38.2p
£51,000 to £499,999	48p	43p
£500,000 or more	50.8p	50.8p

How offices are valued

Offices are usually valued on an overall price per m² for each floor or type of space, adjusted for things like parking, air conditioning and quality. Check the measured floor areas and compare the rate per m² with similar offices nearby.

Reliefs to ask about

Small business rate relief: nothing to pay in England if it’s your business’s only property and the rateable value is £12,000 or less; tapering to £15,000.
Supporting small business relief if you lost relief at the 2026 revaluation, and transitional relief if your bill is rising because of it.
Working from home: you usually don’t pay business rates for using a room as an office, but you might if part of your home is used only for business or customers visit. See GOV.UK: working at home.
In serviced or shared offices, check your licence: rates are often included in the fee.

Is your office rateable value in line with similar properties?

Compare your 2026 rateable value with similar properties nearby. About 30 seconds, no sign-up, no card.

Estimate your bill with the 2026/27 business rates calculator, or read how to challenge a valuation.

Questions

Do offices get the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier?

Generally no. Offices use the standard multipliers: 43.2p under £51,000 and 48p from £51,000 to £499,999 in England for 2026/27.

Do I pay business rates if I work from home?

Usually not, if you use a room in your home as an office. You might if part of the property is used only for business, you sell to or see customers there, or you employ people to work there. GOV.UK has a working-from-home guide.

Business rates for offices by council area

Typical 2026 values for offices in each council area with at least 20 of them.

Sources

Checked against GOV.UK and Business Wales on 13 October 2026. Rules change; if anything differs, GOV.UK and your council are right. Rightly Rated is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Valuation Office, HMRC or any council.

Rightly Rated is a self-serve evidence tool, not a rating surveyor or adviser. Figures come from the Valuation Office’s published 2026 rating list and from what you tell us. We do not act for you with the Valuation Office, and a challenge can lower, keep or raise a rateable value.