Shared and serviced office spaces continue to be a popular choice for startups and small businesses, offering flexibility, shorter commitments, and access to highquality facilities. But in recent years, some operators have faced rising businessrates liabilities — and these costs can filter through to occupiers.
This shift hasn’t come from a single rule change. Instead, case law has gradually reshaped how longstanding tests of “occupation” apply to modern servicedoffice models. In some cases, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has assessed entire buildings as a single rateable property rather than valuing individual offices separately.
When this happens, Small Business Rate Relief may no longer apply at building level, increasing costs for operators and potentially influencing rents or servicecharge structures.
With the April 2026 businessrates revaluation — based on more uptodate rental values — liabilities may rise further in certain locations. Now is a good time for businesses using shared office space to review how business rates are handled in their agreements and factor potential changes into future cost planning.
You can check your property’s current rateable value via the GOV.UK “Find a Business Rates Valuation” service.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. We cannot accept responsibility or liability for any actions you may take, or not take, based on this information.