Greetings Friends of Oury Clark,
After decades of sleepy, incremental evolution, UK property and housing law is undergoing significant reform – and this time, it’s far more than a cosmetic update. These reforms are landing against a backdrop of real change in the commercial property market: high‑street vacancy remains a challenge in some areas, rents continue to rise, and office markets are still recalibrating post‑pandemic.
The result? The impact won’t be uniform. Some occupiers may see rate reductions, others sharp increases, and many will fall somewhere in between with transitional arrangements. Understanding where your assets sit on that spectrum is becoming essential – not just for compliance, but for forecasting, lease negotiations and sound operational planning.
Whether you’re a landlord reassessing risk, a developer navigating reform, or a business trying to stay ahead of change, Oury Clark is here to bring clarity and reassurance as the ground shifts. When the rules are changing, it pays to step forward prepared – not react once the storm hits.
Business Rates Revaluation 2026: What Property Owners & Occupiers Need to Know
On 1 April 2026, every commercial and non‑domestic property in England and Wales moved onto a new business rates list, kicking off the next three‑year valuation cycle. These new rateable values are based on rental levels as at 1 April 2024, capturing a very different market from the last revaluation. For some occupiers, the impact will be modest; for others, bills may rise considerably.
Alongside the new valuations comes a structural shake‑up: the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has been absorbed into HMRC, creating a new “Valuation Office” function. The aim is streamlined processes, though how this plays out in practice – particularly for appeals and effects on response times and overall service – remains to be seen.
One of the most significant developments is the introduction of a new five‑tier multiplier system. Lower‑value retail, hospitality and leisure properties benefit from reduced multipliers, while higher‑value properties (rateable value £500,000+) shoulder more of the burden. That said, this support landed just as pandemic‑era relief ended on 31 March 2026, meaning many businesses may still see higher overall bills.
For landlords, tenants and property advisers, the key point is preparation. Rateable value is not rent, and it’s not the final bill, but it is the starting point for calculating liability. If values look wrong or no longer reflect reality, using the VOA’s Check and Challenge process can help to correct errors and ensure assessments are fair – and early advice can make all the difference.
If you’d like help interpreting your new valuation, forecasting costs or reviewing lease wording, our Property Team is here to help.
P60s Explained: What Employers Get Wrong
What is a P60? A P60 is an annual document issued to UK employees working on 5 April. It summarises total pay, tax, and National Insurance contributions made for the tax year. Employers must provide it by 31 May, either on paper or electronically.
P60s matter more than many realise. Employees rely on them for tax returns, mortgage applications, benefits claims, or reclaiming overpaid tax.
Contact our Payroll Team for more information.
Want to Hear Property Law Without BS?
Learn more about ‘Why UK Property Law is Being Rewritten‘ with Andy Oury & Oury Clark’s Property Law experts Jemma Hotta & Michael de la Fuente.
Upcoming Trips
Get in touch to have a chat with our team when they visit. If you are considering international expansion to/from any of these areas, contact us to start your business growth journey:
- USA – 1st-6th May 2026 (Paul Webster)
o Washington D.C., Maryland – SelectUSA Summit 2026 - USA & Canada – 11th-15th May 2026 (Amy Enslin & Simon Walsh)
o Including San Francisco & Vancouver. - Estonia – 19th-21st May 2026 (Emma Crowley)
o Including Tallinn with attendance at Latitude59 - Canada – 18th-22nd May 2026 (Emma Florentin-Lee & Olivia French)
o Including Toronto & Montreal. - Australia & New Zealand – 25th May–5th June 2026 (Zara Porter, Jessica Bass & Paul Webster)
o Including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast, Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, Queenstown & Christchurch.
Find us on LinkedIn to keep up to date with our travels and any upcoming events.