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Chapter 5 – Duty to Notify

The new duty to notify for business rates, which requires ratepayers to inform the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of property changes, is anticipated to be introduced after 1^st April 2026 and be mandated for all ratepayers by April 2029.

It’s projected that the new compliance regime will initially be tested with small numbers of customers in phases so the Valuation Office Agency can make sure the system works for all ratepayers.

Under the new system, ratepayers will need to notify the VOA within 60 days when there are changes to their property such as:

• The occupier

• Their lease or rent

• The property, for example improvements or extensions

For a small number of ratepayers, they will also have to provide trade information once a year, if it is used to value their property. Moreover, once a year, ratepayers will also be asked to confirm they have told the VOA of any changes to their property.

Once this comes into effect, businesses that fail to comply with the duty, could be fined.

Overall, duty to notify aims to streamline the information collection process for the VOA, reducing the workload on Valuation officers and therefore speeding up the Valuation process. Duty to notify also aims to improve and speed up the Check Challenge Appeal (CCA) process.

SHW Rating are fully committed to assisting with this new compliance. Our proactive and diligent Rating Surveyors are available to review and ensure that ratepayers are meeting these requirements, once it’s comes into effect. We’re on hand to:

• Carry out on-site inspection and measurement (as appropriate) to confirm factual information

• Obtain a full technical survey of your property

• Summarise the changes made to your building, with the attributed costs

• Assemble a file of rent/lease/ownership details, including up to date rental information

For information, please contact our Rating Business Development Executive – Keirran Celestine