Is My Rateable Value Too High?
If your business rates bill feels excessive, your rateable value may not reflect current market conditions.
Before submitting a formal appeal, it's important to understand whether your property shows signs of potential over assessment.
You can check this in under 60 seconds.
What Does "Rateable Value" Mean?
Helping businesses understand their business rates position.
Your rateable value (RV) is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and represents the estimated annual rental value of your property at a specific valuation date.​
Business rates bills are calculated using: Rateable Value X Multiplier
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If the rateable value is too high, you could be paying more than necessary.
Signs Your Rateable Value May Be Too High
You may wish to review your rateable value if:
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Similar nearby properties have lower RVs.
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Rental levels in your area have fallen.
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Your property has changed in size or layout.
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Trading conditions have deteriorated significantly.
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A recent revaluation led to a sharp increase.
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Not every increase indicates an error - but large discrepancies can justify further review.
How To Compare Your Property
To assess whether your RV may be high, you should compare:
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​Property type.
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Floor area.
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Location.
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Rental evidence.
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Recent valuation changes.
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The VOA provides some public information, but interpreting valuation comparisons can be complex.
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This is why many businesses conduct a preliminary screening before starting a formal appeal.
Should You Appeal Immediately?
Appealing without evidence can:
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Result in rejection.
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Delay legitimate cases.
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Extend the process.
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Require tribunal escalation.
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A structured pre-screening helps determine whether there is realistic indication of an over-assessment.
How To Check If Your Rateable Value Is Too High
Our independent screening tool reviews:
✔ Property type
✔ Rateable value level
✔ Comparable reduction patterns
✔ Typical saving ranges
✔ Likelihood indicators
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This helps you understand whether:
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No clear saving is indicated.
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Potential opportunity exists.
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Further specialist review may be appropriate.
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What Happens If Potential Savings Are Identified?
If your results indicate a potential opportunity:
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You can choose to request a specialist review.
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An authorised rating adviser may assess detailed evidence.
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Formal appeals are only pursued if justified.
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There is no obligation to proceed.
Related Guides
If you're considering formal action, read our guide on how the business rates appeal process works.
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If you want to understand potential backdated claims, see our explanation of how business rates refunds are calculated.
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You can also review what happens after you submit your details before proceeding.
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Over-assessment signals can vary depending on property type. See our sector-specific pages for:
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