The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has now released the 2026 Draft Rating List, published on 26 November. The publication represents a significant moment for the business rates community ahead of the full Revaluation on 1 April 2026. As the sector prepares for an intensive period of analysis and review, Inform remains focused on providing the clarity and stability our customers rely on.
The Draft List provides the first view of proposed rateable values based on the rental market at 1 April 2024 (AVD) and allows stakeholders to plan accordingly for the 2026 Rating List taking effect on 1 April next year.
For many estates and rating teams, this is the moment to begin comparing internal records with the VOA’s position. It is also the point where having accurate, structured and centralised data becomes critical. Even small inconsistencies in hereditament information can make it harder to understand why values have changed or where portfolio risks may sit.
The Draft List period is short, yet enables organisations to check whether floor areas, use types, occupation details and historic changes align with the evidence used by the VOA. It also helps identify hereditaments that may require closer attention once the revaluation goes live.
Early understanding supports internal modelling and allows teams to form a clearer picture of how their portfolio may be affected over the coming cycle.
Our software has been designed to help with complex hereditament data in a more structured and transparent way. With the Draft List now available, our focus is on ensuring that these platforms continue to provide clarity, accuracy and traceability as organisations begin their reviews.
Across our systems, we are working to ensure that:
Our priority is to support rating professionals and estates managers with reliable tools that help them interpret the new values confidently and act with clarity as the cycle progresses.
The transition from the Draft List to the live Rating List will bring the formal liability changes into effect. With more than 25 years as the leading provider of rating data and software, supporting the industry through revaluations is a core part of what we do.
Our commitment is to ensure that agents, occupiers and advisors have access to accurate, timely and dependable information throughout this process. Alongside maintaining the high standards our clients expect, we continue to invest in the future of our platforms, enhancing functionality and progressing new capabilities that will support the sector through the 2026 Revaluation in April, and the transition towards the full rollout Duty to Notify in 2029.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with the industry during this next phase of change.
This article is for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional advice.
