The Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/152
• Sections: 6

Section 1 Citation, extent, application and commencement

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to England only.

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2026.

(4) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2026.

Section 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“ the Act ” means the Local Government Finance Act 1988;

“ high-value multiplier ”, in relation to a chargeable day and a billing authority, means the multiplier with that description calculated for that day and that authority in accordance with regulations under paragraph A6A(1)(a) or 9B(1)(a)(i) (other higher non-domestic multipliers) of Schedule 7 to the Act ;

“ RHL hereditament ”, in relation to a chargeable day, means a hereditament which is a qualifying retail, hospitality or leisure hereditament for that day ;

“ small business RHL multiplier ”, in relation to a chargeable day and a billing authority, means the multiplier with that description calculated for that day and that authority in accordance with regulations under paragraph A6A(1)(b) or 9B(1)(a)(ii) (other lower non-domestic multipliers) of Schedule 7 to the Act;

“ standard RHL multiplier ”, in relation to a chargeable day and a billing authority, means the multiplier with that description calculated for that day and that authority in accordance with regulations under paragraph A6A(1)(b) or 9B(1)(a)(ii) of Schedule 7 to the Act.

Section 3 Local rating: occupied hereditaments

(1) Paragraphs (2) to (5) apply for the purposes of paragraphs 1 (chargeable amount before any reliefs), 2(1) (charitable rate relief) and 3 (improvement rate relief) of Schedule 4ZA to the Act.

(2) For any chargeable day and any billing authority, M is prescribed as the small business RHL multiplier in relation to an RHL hereditament if for that day A is less than £51,000.

(3) For any chargeable day and any billing authority, M is prescribed as the standard RHL multiplier in relation to an RHL hereditament if for that day A is—

(a) £51,000 or more, but

(b) less than £500,000.

(4) For any chargeable day and any billing authority, M is prescribed as the high-value multiplier in relation to a hereditament if for that day A is £500,000 or more.

(5) For any chargeable day for which none of paragraphs (2) to (4) apply in relation to a hereditament—

(a) M is prescribed as D if for that day A is less than £51,000, and

(b) in any other case M is prescribed as B.

(6) For the purpose of paragraph 4(1) (small business rate relief) of Schedule 4ZA to the Act, for any chargeable day and any billing authority—

(a) M is prescribed as the small business RHL multiplier in relation to an RHL hereditament, and

(b) in any other case M is prescribed as D.

Section 4 Local rating: unoccupied hereditaments

(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) and (2)(a) (chargeable amount before any reliefs) of Schedule 4ZB to the Act.

(2) For any chargeable day and any billing authority, M is prescribed as the high-value multiplier in relation to a hereditament if for that day A is £500,000 or more.

(3) For any chargeable day for which paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to a hereditament—

(a) M is prescribed as D if for that day A is less than £51,000, and

(b) in any other case M is prescribed as B.

Section 5 Central rating

(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply for the purposes of paragraphs 1 (chargeable amount before any reliefs), 2(4) (charitable rate relief), 3 (improvement rate relief) and 4(4) (unoccupied hereditaments rate relief) of Schedule 5A to the Act.

(2) For any chargeable day, M is prescribed as the high-value multiplier in relation to a hereditament if for that day A is £500,000 or more.

(3) For any chargeable day for which paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to a hereditament—

(a) M is prescribed as D if for that day A is less than £51,000, and

(b) in any other case M is prescribed as B.

Section 6 Amendment of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2024

After regulation 1(2) (application) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2024 insert—

(2A) These Regulations do not apply to financial years beginning on or after 1st April 2026.