The 26th 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 and the Valuation Tribunal Service.

Module Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes

Recorded: 03/06/2026

Areas covered

Westminster Rating Policy Update

• With home nations in control of their own policies and having their on levers on reliefs, multipliers, regulations, do businesses follow the best deal when it comes to location, location, location?
• What do the sums yield? Using hypothetical businesses, lets compare and contrast, using equivalent RVs in different home nations - where do the numbers take us?
• Are the savvy businesses already doing this?
• What are the downsides for following this approach for ratepayers?

Rating Policy - A Post-Election Landscape: A Discussion 

• The UK general election took place in 2024. Welsh and Scottish elections have their elections in May 2026. The January 2026 Scottish budget demonstrated divergence from Westminster norms. Will elections drive more divergence?
• Devolution in practice: policy leadership, policy drift, or policy competition?
• Are 3 sets of positions on reliefs, multipliers and future reforms cohering - or producing unintended distortions? What of GAAR?

Business Rates and Investment: Call for Evidence Consultation 

(HM Treasury – Call for Evidence published 26 November 2025)

• Its 2 principle tenants; how business rates influence and stifle investment decisions; and what reforms aid business strategies?
• We may or may not have had a formal response by HMT, but lets hear what businesses want

The Life Cycle of the Rating List

• What happens to the RV “pot” during the life of a List?
• Patterns for 2017/2023
• RV losses
• Circumstances in which the pot can grow mid-list
• Appeal drivers

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Rating

• The future is here, but what does it mean in practice?
• Ratepayers doing it themselves v the added value of having a rating advisor
• What is the potential for rogue actors and how to guard against it? 
• Does the VO computer make use of it, or adopt similar AI principles?
• Valuation requires human judgment; RICS Guidance suggests a ‘human in the loop’. How can organisations use AI responsibly? 
• How does the RICS Professional Statement moderate organisational and member behaviour? 
• Could AI create and code in bias and how is this avoided? 
• What is allowed in the management of disputes and what does the VT and UT practice directions say on this?
• How will its role evolve?
• The dos, dont's and risks