RATEABLE VALUE
Rateable value, explained
Your rateable value is the Valuation Office Agency's estimate of what your property could rent for each year. It's the figure your business rates bill is calculated from, so if it's too high, you overpay every year.
Get this number wrong and everything downstream is wrong. Here's what it means, how it's set, how to check yours, and what to do if it looks too high.
Check your rateable value against the VOA listHow to check your rateable value
- Look it up on the GOV.UK Find a Business Rates Valuation Service.
- Compare it to similar properties nearby, if yours is higher, that's a red flag.
- Or upload your bill and we'll do the cross-check for you.
How it's set
The VOA estimates the open-market annual rent at a fixed valuation date, based on the property's size, use and features. Values are updated at each revaluation, most recently in 2026.
If it's too high
You can challenge your rateable value through the VOA for free. The strongest evidence is comparable properties assessed at a lower value.
Is your rateable value right?
We check it against the official VOA list and your neighbours' values in about a minute. Free.
Check my billQuestions
What is a rateable value?
It's the Valuation Office Agency's estimate of the annual rent a property could let for on a set date. Your business rates bill is the rateable value multiplied by the year's multiplier, minus relief.
How do I check my rateable value?
Use the GOV.UK Find a Business Rates Valuation Service, or upload your bill to our checker and we'll cross-check the value against the official VOA list and comparable properties.
Who sets the rateable value?
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of HMRC, not your council. The council sets and collects the bill; the VOA sets the value it's based on.
What if my rateable value is too high?
You can challenge it free through the VOA's Check and Challenge service. A reduction lowers your bill, often backdated.