Local councils (England) — multiplier set by central government
The temporary, application-style discount this listing used to describe (40% off in 2025/26, capped at £110,000 per business) has been abolished. From 1 April 2026 it has been replaced by a permanent, structurally lower business rates multiplier for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties in England with a rateable value under £500,000, rather than a discount applied on top of the standard bill. You cannot make a new claim for the old-style RHL relief — the lower rate is now baked into how the bill is calculated in the first place.
Amount
For 2026/27: RHL properties with rateable value under £51,000 are billed at a 38.2p small business RHL multiplier (vs. 43.2p standard small business multiplier); RHL properties valued £51,000-£499,999 are billed at a 43p standard RHL multiplier (vs. 48p standard multiplier) — roughly a 5p-in-the-pound reduction either way. Transitional relief (Supporting Small Business scheme) caps bill increases for anyone losing out from the change.
Deadline
Rolling / no fixed deadline
R&D claims and business grants are exactly where a specialist can make the biggest difference — both in claim size and time saved. We're building relationships with vetted professionals who can help with applications like this — register your interest and we'll follow up when we have someone to recommend.
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You can also do this yourself for free via the official sourceNo application needed — the lower RHL multiplier is applied automatically by your local council when calculating your business rates bill based on your property's rateable value and use class.
View official sourceLast verified: 23 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.