Promoting and enhancing best practice and technical expertise

The 25th National Rating Day

The National Rating Day has become a major fixture in the Rating calendar. It is the largest gathering of rating practitioners year on year; and is a must attend event if you work within the profession. This hybrid event looks at the here and now, policy and reform and best and effective practice. Speakers represent the private sector, the Valuation Office Agency and the Valuation Tribunal Service.

Book your choice of attendance below: either in person at the Congress, or a virtual place.

Start Date Venue Price  
5 June 2025 Congress Centre, London £310 BOOK
5 June 2025 Virtual Conference Attendance £310 BOOK

Note: All prices are to be paid in GBP and are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate

Event duration: Full Day Event (5.30 hours CPD).
Registration from: 9.00. Event starts at: 9.35. Event finishes at: 17.30.

Download and print your full course brochure here

The business rating world is accustomed to revaluation cycles and is currently adjusting to a 3 year revaluation cycle. But, there is another cycle it hasn’t had for 14 years. With a change in political leadership, it is hardly surprising that the first National Rating Day following on from last year's General Election is going to be heavy on policy and change.  

The Autumn Statement was the first opportunity to see what change might look like. We have permanent and temporary measures of reduced multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, higher multipliers applying to properties above this threshold, continued support for small businesses; and private schools will lose their VAT and NDR exemptions.  

Perhaps of greater significance for the future, the reform agenda to transform business rates from the previous administration continues, now branded ‘The Next Generation Rating Programme’, but October saw the publication of a discussion paper from the Treasury on how the Government seeks to change rating. This paper’s focus is on protecting the high street, incentivising growth, investment, tackling avoidance, evasion and making the system more responsive.  

Policy is only one part of the National Rating Day. There is a revaluation in 2026, in Valuation Matters we have a new practice statement for receipts & expenditure and Acenden’s fit out decision continues ‘to give’ as it breaks into other property types. We also look at the evolution of expectations from the Tribunal system and of course, will review the key cases.  

If you offer rating advice to clients, this is the must attend event of the year.

You can attend in person or join virtually.  

Speakers

Programme

Welcome & Introduction from the Conference Chair - Myles O'Brien


Policy Matters

Transforming Business Rates

  • The Government’s long term ambition for business rates
  • Lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) and how to fund it
  • Protecting the smallest properties
  • Protecting the tax base through General Anti Avoidance Regulations
  • Delivering faster and more frequent revaluations

The Views of Private Practice on Transforming Business Rates


Getting Properties into Use: Fresh Start v Property Auctions

  • Scotland has Fresh Start Relief, where businesses occupying certain long-term empty properties may be entitled to a 100% business rates discount for their first year in those premises
  • England has High Street Rental Auctions, where councils take control of empty properties and rent them out to local businesses
  • Contrasting effective policies

Delivering NDR Reforms

The Next Generation Rating Programme for Delivering NDR Reforms

  • What reforms are confirmed?
  • Their progress and time lines and next steps
  • Progress on the VOA’s IT systems
  • The future of ratepayer, advisors and VOA engagement
  • Information duty on ratepayers
  • Changes to the Check, Challenge and Appeal system

What Happened Next? An Update on Agent Standards, Customer Compliance and Penalties

  • VOA’s compliance focus
  • Agent Standards
  • CCA penalties

Reval Matters

Reval 2026

  • Learning to live with the 3 year cycle 
  • Is a shortened AVD on the cards?
  • Variations from previous years

Review of the Sectors

  • Retail
  • Offices
  • Industrial, including online distribution sheds
  • License and Leisure

Practice Matters

Fit Out: Adjusting Rents and Rateable Values for ‘Fit Out’ from Shell

  • How are the principles around Fit Out being applied to other property types?
  • Offices
  • Shops
  • Other property classes
  • Will this capture “green” adaptations to buildings?
  • Possible friction with completion notices and Improvement Relief
  • What could be rateable on shop/restaurant fit? 

Judicial Matters

Tribunal Matters – A Panel Discussion

Rating surveyors must stay abreast of what’s happening in the Courts and Tribunal system.

  • The evolution of expectations on the parties that take cases
  • Expectations of expert witnesses at Valuation Tribunal and in the Upper Tribunal
  • The evolution of expectations on the parties that take cases
  • Complying with those expectations  
  • How the system stays fit for purpose?
  • Weighting evidence – changing the burden of proof
  • Requirements from professional bodies post Cheshire Lounge

Case Law Update

  • Dan Kolinsky KC provides his annual review of significant caselaw and topical legal developments affecting the rating world