How your bill is worked out
Your bill is worked out by multiplying the rateable value by the rating multiplier.
Rateable value
Your property will be given a rateable value, which is worked out by its rental value. The rateable value is set by the Valuation Office Agency. Use this service to find the ‘rateable value’ of a property.
If your enquiry is about the valuation given to your property, you need to contact the Valuation Office Agency:
Valuation Office Agency
Durham Customer Service Centre
Wycliffe House
Green Lane
Durham
DH1 3UW
Rating multiplier
The rating multiplier is the rate charged for every £1 of rateable value. The multiplier is set by central government and depending on inflation can change each year. At the budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor announced the move to five multipliers from 2026/27. The Small Business multiplier is applied to assessments with a Rateable Value up to 50,999, the Standard multiplier is used for those between 51,000 and 499,999. Hereditaments with a Rateable Value of 500,000 and above will use the High Value multiplier.
| Multiplier type | 2026/27 | 2025/26 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 48 | 55.5 | 54.6 | 51.2 |
| Small business | 43.2 | 49.9 | 49.9 | 49.9 |
| Standard Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure | 43 | |||
| Small Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure | 38.2 | |||
| High Value | 50.8 |
Appealing
The business rates appeal process in England is known as check, challenge, appeal. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) deal with checks and challenges through their online service. Further information to register for the service can be found on the GOV.UK website.
What are business rates
Non-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.
Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1 April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally.
This provides a direct financial incentive for authorities to work with local businesses to create a favourable local environment for growth since authorities will benefit from growth in business rates revenues. The money, together with revenue from Council Tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and other local authorities in your area.
Further information about the business rates system, including transitional and other reliefs, can be found on the GOV.UK website.