Business rates in Southampton City: is your bill too high?
6,707 business properties in Southampton City have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £11,250. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Southampton City. 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 | 1,859 | £11,000 | £135 | £100–£184 | More |
| offices | 1,388 | £8,400 | £169 | £129–£237 | More |
| workshops | 639 | £11,250 | £83 | £65–£109 | More |
| warehouses | 308 | £32,500 | £90 | £64–£110 | More |
| factories | 30 | £100,000 | £67 | £59–£82 | More |
| restaurants | 165 | £33,000 | £170 | £119–£250 | More |
| cafés | 27 | £15,500 | £137 | £97–£177 | More |
| pubs | 119 | £30,000 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 44 | £5,200 | £138 | £107–£199 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 57 | £15,250 | £78 | £59–£94 | More |
| business units | 28 | £9,700 | £63 | £44–£109 | More |
| day nurseries | 38 | £30,250 | £147 | £122–£157 | More |
Towns in Southampton City
Questions about business rates in Southampton City
How are business rates worked out in Southampton City?
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 Southampton City?
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