The UK’s business rates system is changing, and one of the most significant updates is the introduction of Duty to Notify. This new requirement will make ratepayers responsible for ensuring that the information held by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is correct.
For businesses, inaccurate property data could mean overpaying or underpaying rates—both of which come with financial consequences. Here’s what’s changing, what it could mean for you, and how Stak can help.
What’s changing?
The UK government is making three key updates to business rates:
- More frequent revaluations: the VOA previously reassessed properties every five years. Now, revaluations will happen every three years, with the next cycle covering 2026-2029.
- Business rates digitalisation: the government is working to digitise business rates by 2028.
- Duty to Notify: the most important change, requiring ratepayers to proactively confirm and correct their property data.
Understanding Duty to Notify
Duty to Notify is being phased in between 1st April 2026 and 31st March 2029. Under this new rule, ratepayers will receive a letter from the VOA, requiring them to:
- Confirm that the recorded property details are correct.
- Notify the VOA of any relevant changes.
- Correct any historical inaccuracies in their property data.
- Ratepayers will have 60 days to respond to the Duty to Notify
What happens if you don’t comply?
Failing to provide accurate information could lead to financial penalties:
- Non-compliance fines: businesses that fail to respond to VOA requests can be fined.
- False information penalties: providing incorrect or misleading data could result in fines of up to £500 plus 3% of the property’s rateable value.
Overpaying vs. underpaying business rates
Ratepayers need to be aware of how inaccurate measurements impact their business rates—both now and in the future.
Overpayment: can you get a refund?
If your property has been over-measured and you’ve been paying too much in business rates, you can claim a refund for overpayments going back to 1st April 2023 (the start of the current valuation cycle).To support a claim, you’ll need independent measurement evidence—something that Stak’s verified surveys provide.
Underpayment: do you need to take action?
If your property has been under-measured and you’ve been underpaying rates, you are not currently required to notify the VOA.
However, when Duty to Notify comes into full effect, you will be legally required to report any discrepancies. Having accurate measurements now ensures you’re prepared.
Why accurate measurement matters
Accurate property measurements aren’t just about business rates, they also impact rents/capital value, service charges, and in some instances a range of Facilities Management contracts that are based on the size of a property.
With the introduction of Duty to Notify, ratepayers need accurate area measurements to avoid compliance risks and unexpected costs.
How Stak can help: accurate data delivered fast
Stak surveys commercial real estate, utilising our end-to-end technology and operating model to deliver unparalleled speed and accuracy. Our surveys can include a Letter of Reliance, meaning our data is independently verified and suitable for use in official property assessments.
With over eight years of research and development in proprietary measurement technology, Stak provides a level of speed and accuracy that traditional surveying methods simply cannot match. Using state-of-the-art LiDAR scanners and proprietary cloud technology, Stak captures millions of measurement points for every space, ensuring verified accurate measurements.
Because we have an expert team trained to capture spaces in compliance with RICS global measurement standards, including Net Internal Area, Gross Internal Area, and IPMS, we can typically be on-site within 48 hours of instruction—significantly faster than traditional surveying methods. For spaces under 10,000 square feet, Stak can often deliver verified data within a week.
For large-scale or complex projects, we work to agreed timelines, leveraging our advanced spatial data processing pipeline to ensure speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Smaller, traditional surveying firms can struggle to manage both data capture and processing at scale, but Stak’s technology is built for high-volume, high-complexity projects.
For example, in a project for the UK Ministry of Justice, Stak surveyed 70 buildings in under 35 days, delivering verified measurement data within just three months of instruction—something traditional methods would find difficult to match.
Data you can trust, all in one place
For commercial ratepayers managing multiple assets, Stak provides a centralised digital platform, where all property data, floor plans, and area measurement reports can be accessed easily. All stakeholders can be confident that Stak measurement data is accurate, reliable, and fully compliant with measurement standards.
Whether you need a single 10,000 square foot space surveyed or require accurate, standardised data across a global real estate portfolio, Stak delivers market leading measurement solutions.
Act now to stay compliant
With Duty to Notify set to become law, property owners must ensure their data is correct. Taking action now can:
- Help recover overpaid business rates going back to April 2023.
- Ensure compliance before Duty to Notify comes into effect.
- Avoid fines and penalties for incorrect or missing property data.
If you’re unsure whether your area measurements are correct, get in touch with Stak. Our team provides measurement data at unparalleled speed, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Contact our team of experts today to discuss your requirements.
Please note: this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Business rates assessments should be handled by qualified professionals. Stak provides verified property measurement services but does not act as a ratings surveyor.
