Continuing our lobbying for fairer business rates
Further to consistent communication and lobbying of our MP Sir Julian Smith, we are pleased to say he raised the rate hikes on pubs today in the final PMQs this year – watch via link here
This week we also asked the Association for Town and City Management (ATCM) if they will be mounting a campaign against the rate hikes for hospitality businesses coming from the new RVs for 2026 onwards and the removal of the 40% RHL relief. We gave them a real-world example of the rate rises using the Water Rat and asked for their help.
We received this response on the same day:
“Hi Lilla,
Heard loud and clear.
We have already met with Treasury officials alongside other membership bodies. Unfortunately, the experience of the Water Rat is not unique. So many other businesses who were promised a decrease in costs are now facing the very opposite.
It has been communicated to those Treasury officials. I think they would appreciate some real world examples to help them understand what has gone wrong with the revaluation. Would I have permission to refer them to the figures from the Water Rat should I get the chance to put this forward?
Regards,
Ojay”
The Government has now released more guidance regarding the base liability to calculate business rates for the new tax year, please see the guidance link below:
The key paragraph is in the Supporting Small Business Relief annex:
“b. BL will reflect any SBRR, Rural rate relief, 2023 SSB or 2025/26 RHL relief applicable at 31/3/26. BL will not reflect any TR present on 31/3/26 and, therefore, it will be necessary, where TR applies on 31/3/26 in addition to any of the above reliefs, to recalculate the BL as if TR had not applied.”
This means if a business received Small Business Rate Relief and RHL then their base liability rate for determining the amount of change (and therefore either the £800 cap or TR) will start from the lowest possible figure (but not include 2023 TR). Which is a slightly better picture than previously envisioned.
We will continue to lobby for fairer rates for all our BID businesses.
