Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and revaluation
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for the valuation of your property. You will need to contact the VOA for all queries regarding your rateable value.
The VOA regularly updates the rateable values of all businesses and other non-domestic properties (Properties which are not private homes) in England and Wales. Rateable Values (RV) are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date. For the 2023 valuation, that date was 1 April 2021. We use these rateable values to calculate business rates bills.
Revaluations are carried out to reflect changes in the property market, which means that business rates bills are based on more up to date information.
Finding and understanding your rateable value
You can search for a rateable value through the VOA’s find a business rates valuation service.
Business rates are based on your property's rateable value. The VOA maintains the Non-Domestic Rating List. This includes setting the rateable values of business properties. To understand why your property has a certain rateable value, please visit the how business rates are calculated page on GOV.UK.
If your property details need changing
To tell the VOA about changes to your property details (such as floor area sizes and parking) you need a business rates valuation account. The VOA may accept your changes and update the current and future valuations.
Sign in or register for a business rates valuation account.
If you think your rateable value is too high
From 1 April 2023, you will need to use a business rates valuation account to tell the VOA that you think your rateable value is too high.
Sign in or register for a business rates valuation account ready for 1 April 2023.
How COVID-19 affected future rateable values
The VOA bases most rateable values on an estimate of what it would cost to rent a property for a year, starting on a certain date. For the 2023 valuation, that date was 1 April 2021. This was during the pandemic and the rent information the VOA used reflected this.
Contact the VOA
You can contact the VOA by calling 03000 501501 or filling in the VOA contact form.