Revaluations are designed to reflect changes in the property market, yet they rarely land evenly. Some occupiers will benefit. Others will see significant increases in their liabilities. The challenge is that most won’t know which side they fall on until it’s already feeding through into their costs.
With business rates remaining one of the largest fixed outgoings for many organisations, this isn’t simply an administrative update, it’s a financial risk that needs to be understood.
What Has Changed in the 2026 Rating List?
From 1 April 2026, rateable values have been reset to reflect a new valuation date. On paper, this is about fairness, aligning liabilities with more recent market conditions.
In reality, the market has shifted unevenly. Rental growth has varied significantly between sectors, locations and asset types. As a result, the revaluation is less about a universal increase or decrease, and more about a redistribution of the burden.
For some, that shift will be marginal. For others, it will be material.
Why Your Rateable Value Deserves a Closer Look
There is often an assumption that a rateable value is fixed and accurate. In practice, it is an opinion of value, based on available data and assumptions at a given point in time.
That leaves room for discrepancy.
Whether through outdated property details, changes in use, or the interpretation of market evidence, it is not uncommon for assessments to miss the mark. And as the system becomes more complex, those inconsistencies become harder to spot, but more important to address.
What Should Businesses Be Doing Now?
At a minimum, businesses should take the time to review their current position.
That starts with understanding how their rateable value compares to similar properties, and whether the underlying facts are correct. From there, it becomes a question of whether the valuation itself reflects the reality of the market.
Where concerns arise, the Check, Challenge, Appeal process provides a route to address them, although navigating this effectively requires a clear understanding of both valuation methodology and supporting evidence.
The Cost of Standing Still
For many, the default response is to accept the new bill and move on.
The risk is that doing nothing often means overpaying, sometimes for years.
An inaccurate assessment doesn’t correct itself. It carries forward into future liabilities, distorts forecasting, and can quietly erode budgets over time. Across larger portfolios, that impact can become significant very quickly.
Why Early Action Matters More Than Ever
One of the key challenges with revaluation is timing. By the point at which increases are fully understood, they are often already embedded in financial planning.
Acting early allows businesses to get ahead of that curve, to identify potential issues, sense-check liabilities, and put strategies in place before costs escalate.
In a system that is only becoming more complex, taking a proactive approach is not just advisable. It is essential.
How Dunlop Heywood Can Help
Understanding whether your rateable value is accurate and knowing what to do if it isn’t, can be complex.
Dunlop Heywood works with occupiers, investors and asset managers to review assessments, identify risks and support challenges where appropriate.
If you would like to sense-check your position following the 2026 revaluation, our team would be happy to have an initial conversation.
