Rate relief
What's changed from April 2026?
The Government introduced a number of changes to the business rates system from 1 April 2026, including:
- new rateable values following the 2026 revaluation
- new business rates multipliers
- new lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties
- a Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme for businesses experiencing significant increases in their business rates bills
Your bill may increase or decrease depending on your property's new rateable value and any reliefs available to you.
Before applying for any relief, you should check your rateable value on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website.
Please note that you should continue to pay your bill while any application is being considered.
Which relief should I look at?
| Criteria | Type of relief |
| Registered charity or non-profit organisations | Charity and Non-Profit Relief |
| Rateable value £15,000 or less | Small Business Rate Relief |
| Bill increased following the 2026 revaluation | Supporting Small Business Relief |
| Village shop, post office, pub or petrol station | Rural Rate Relief |
| Experiencing financial hardship | Hardship Relief |
| Pub or live music venue | Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief |
| Temporarily occupying part of a property | Part Occupied Property Relief |
Mandatory Reliefs
From 1 April 2026, the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme helps businesses facing significant increases in their business rates bills following the 2026 revaluation.
Please note: this will be automatically applied to the account and you won't need to submit an application.
- Up to £12,000 RV – 100% relief
- £12,001 to £14,999 RV – Sliding scale relief
- £15,000+ RV – No Small Business Rate Relief
Please note: you will need to submit an application for this relief.
This is available to qualifying businesses in designated rural settlements.
For further details please contact ndr@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Registered charities and certain non-profit organisations may qualify for mandatory relief.
Please note: you will need to submit an application for this relief.
Eligible pubs and live music venues are entitled to 15% relief on their 2026/27 business rates bill after any other qualifying reliefs have been applied.
For further details please contact ndr@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme ended on 31 March 2026.
From 1 April 2026, eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties benefit from lower business rates multipliers instead of percentage relief.
Please note: this type of relief does not require an application to be submitted.
Discretionary Reliefs
Hardship Relief may be awarded where a business would suffer financial hardship without assistance and granting relief would be reasonable having regard to the interests of local council taxpayers.
For further details please contact ndr@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Eligible sporting organisations may qualify for relief.
Part Occupied Property Relief may be awarded where only part of a property is occupied for a temporary period.
For further details please contact ndr@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Contact us
If you are unsure which relief applies to your business, please contact our Business Rates Team: ndr@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.