Before the 2026/27 Rates Bills Land: What UK Property Owners Should Review Now

By Verity Commercial Services

For landlords and asset managers across the UK, the start of the new business rates year on 1 April is a key financial milestone.

Each year, local authorities issue new business rates bills confirming the liability attached to commercial property. For vacant assets, this often means a return to full business rates liability once empty property relief expires.

Across larger portfolios, this can quickly become one of the largest controllable costs attached to vacancy.

That’s why many property professionals use the weeks leading up to the new rates year to review their position; ensuring they understand their exposure before rates bills begin to land.

Why March is a Key Planning Window

The period before the start of the new financial year provides an opportunity to review vacant assets across a portfolio.

Once rates bills are issued, costs become part of the year’s financial commitments. But before that point, landlords still have time to assess their position and consider strategic options.

For many property owners, this review typically focuses on four key areas:

• empty property relief timelines

• rateable value accuracy

• potential business rates exposure

• strategic approaches to managing vacancy

Taking time to review these factors early can provide greater clarity and control over the year ahead.

Understanding Empty Property Relief

When a commercial property becomes vacant, owners may receive temporary empty property relief.

In most cases:

• Retail, office and commercial properties receive three months’ relief

• Industrial properties receive six months’ relief

Once these relief periods expire, the owner typically becomes liable for 100% of the business rates bill, even if the property remains unoccupied.

For assets that have been vacant for some time, this means the cost of holding the property can increase significantly once the new rates year begins.

What the 2026/27 Multipliers Mean for Landlords

From 1 April 2026, new business rates multipliers will apply across England.

These multipliers determine the amount of rates payable based on the property’s rateable value and category.

For example, under the 2026/27 multipliers, a property with a £100,000 rateable value could generate an annual rates bill of approximately £48,000 once relief expires.

For larger assets, the figures increase quickly.

A property with a £500,000 rateable value could face an annual liability of around £254,000, while higher-value commercial assets may exceed £500,000 in annual rates costs.

For landlords managing multiple vacant properties, the combined exposure across a portfolio can be significant.

Vacancy is Normal. Unmanaged Liability Doesn’t Have to Be.

Vacancy is a natural part of commercial property cycles.

Leases end, occupiers relocate, assets are repositioned and markets evolve.

What differentiates strategic landlords is how they manage the financial impact of vacancy.

Increasingly, property owners are reviewing their vacant assets proactively to ensure that business rates liability is managed effectively.

In some cases, structured empty property mitigation strategies can reduce or eliminate business rates liability while ensuring that buildings remain active, secure and professionally managed.

How Verity Supports Landlords

At Verity Commercial Services, we support landlords, developers and asset managers across the UK to reduce the cost and risk associated with vacant commercial property.

Through a structured King’s Counsel-approved empty rates mitigation model, Verity helps clients eliminate up to 100% of empty business rates liability on qualifying assets, while ensuring properties remain active, compliant and professionally managed.

For many portfolios, this approach provides a practical way to reduce the financial impact of vacancy while protecting asset value.

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