High Force Road Cafe
Based on your rateable value alone
Based on similar properties nearby, you don't appear to be overpaying — there's nothing to chase here. This is an estimate, not a formal valuation.
Why we think you are paying rates
A rateable value under £12,000 would normally mean Small Business Rate Relief wipes this bill out — but only if it is the only property your business occupies. The trading name on this property also appears on 17 other properties in the VOA's records, which usually means relief does not apply. Of similar properties where a council gave us the actual bill, 88% were paying. If that is wrong, tell us below and we will recalculate.
Is this the only property your business occupies in England?
Small Business Rate Relief only applies if it is — it changes the bill above.
Same use class and scheme, within about 1 km. Your property is the bar labelled (you).
£/m² (overall) — rateable value divided by floor area, so properties of different sizes can be compared like-for-like, before anything is applied to it: the multiplier, reliefs or your final bill. This is a broad-brush screening check, not a floor-by-floor valuation. Source: VOAThe government body that sets every property's Rateable Value. From April 2026 the VOA is part of HMRC (see below), but 'VOA' is still the common name for the valuation side of the work. 2026 Rating ListThe public register listing every business property's Rateable Value. The current list is the '2026 list', based on rental values from 1 April 2024..
All comparables match your use class, within about 1 km of you
| Comparable | Distance | Floor area | RV | £/m² (overall) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| same postcode | 91 m² | £6,600 | £74 | 99% | |
| same postcode | 94.7 m² | £6,900 | £73 | 96% | |
| 280 m | 82.5 m² | £6,000 | £74 | 90% | |
| 280 m | 80.7 m² | £5,900 | £73 | 88% | |
| 280 m | 80 m² | £5,800 | £74 | 88% | |
| 280 m | 80 m² | £5,800 | £74 | 88% | |
| 280 m | 73.3 m² | £5,300 | £74 | 80% | |
| 280 m | 73.3 m² | £5,300 | £74 | 80% | |
| Your property | — | 91.3 m² | £6,700 | £74 | — |
Median comparable £/m² (overall) ≈ £74/m². Your unit is assessed at £74/m². Distances are approximate and measured from your property.
On the comparable evidence we hold, your rate is in line with — or below — similar properties nearby, so we don't see grounds to challenge the rateable value right now. That's worth knowing too: no fee, no challenge needed. It's still worth the checks below, which don't depend on the rate.
The one thing we can't see is your actual measured size. Rateable value is built from floor areas measured to a standard code — and overstated areas are the single most common error we find. Pace out your unit (or check the VOA's published measurements against reality). If the area they hold is bigger than your real floor space, that alone can cut your rateable value, whatever the rate says.
With a rateable value of £6,700, you likely qualify for Small Business Rate Relief — up to 100% off your bill if this is your only business property (under £12,000), tapering to nothing at £15,000. Relief isn't always applied automatically — check your bill and ask your council if it's missing. This is a discount on the bill, separate from whether your rateable value is right.
Everything you need to challenge your rates with confidence — or to hand straight to a surveyor. One report, yours to keep.
Official VOA data · no account needed
This is an estimate, not a guaranteed saving. Business Rate Checker compares your property against similar ones in the official rating list to flag where your rateable value looks high. The figures shown — including any suggested rateable value, annual saving or backdated refund — are indicative and depend on the evidence the Valuation Office Agency (VOA, now part of HMRC) accepts. The actual outcome could be higher, lower, or nil, and in rare cases a review can leave a value unchanged or increased. Nothing here is a valuation, financial or legal advice; it's information to help you decide whether to look into your bill further.
Independent service — not endorsed by the VOA/HMRC. Business Rate Checker is an independent service. We use published rating-list data under licence, but the Valuation Office Agency (now part of HMRC) does not endorse, back, verify or take any responsibility for this site, our comparisons or our estimates. Official rateable values and any formal decisions come only from the VOA/HMRC.