Commercial property to rent in New Forest: rental values and leases

The local business premises, their rateable values and energy ratings, and what to check in a lease.

Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the Valuation Office Agency statistics and the MHCLG Energy Performance of Buildings tables.

Not legal advice. This page has not been reviewed by a solicitor. The figures are official statistics run through our calculators, not a quote.

What should I know about taking a commercial lease in New Forest?

As of March 2026, New Forest has about 7,460 business premises on the rating list, with offices at an average rateable value of £117 per m² and shops at £147 per m². Before you sign a lease, check the rent review, repairs, break clause and the premises' energy rating.

Updated

Got a draft lease for premises in New Forest? We'll introduce you to an independent SRA-regulated property solicitor, who confirms their fee in writing before any work starts.

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What does commercial property rent for in New Forest?

The VOA's rateable value is its estimate of an appropriate annual rent for a property, assuming the tenant pays the business rates, repairs and insurance. It is not a current market rent or an asking rent: the figures below are averages from the 2023 rating list, whose rateable values are based on rental values at 1 April 2021; the 2026 revaluation replaced on 1 April 2026. Use them to compare towns and property types, then check real asking rents with local agents.

Annual rateable value at the local average per m² (VOA, 2023 list), for example sizes. Not market rent; see the VOA method note.
TypePer m²50 m²100 m²250 m²
Office£117£5,850£11,700£29,250
Shop£147£7,350£14,700£36,750
Industrial£38£1,900£3,800£9,500

Business premises in New Forest

VOA, 2023 rating list, at 31 March 2026. Counts are rounded by the VOA; rateable value per m² is total rateable value divided by floorspace.
TypePremisesRateable value per m²England and Wales
Shops1,570£147£144
Offices940£117£204
Industrial2,040£38£42

Energy ratings of business premises in New Forest

Non-domestic EPCs lodged in the last four quarters (MHCLG, tables updated 2026-10-29): certificates issued on sale, letting or construction, not the whole stock.
RatingA+ABCDEFG
New Forest42293135392411
England and Wales8388,15530,60330,67312,9205,645552598

What to check before you sign

More questions about premises in New Forest

What is the rateable value of shops in New Forest?

£147 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 1,570 shops: 2% above the £144 for England and Wales.

Source: VOA, Non-domestic rating: business floorspace, March 2026, 2023 rating list at 31 March 2026.

What is the rateable value of offices in New Forest?

£117 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 940 offices: 43% below the £204 for England and Wales.

Source: VOA, Non-domestic rating: business floorspace, March 2026, 2023 rating list at 31 March 2026.

What is the rateable value of industrial premises in New Forest?

£38 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 2,040 industrial premises: 10% below the £42 for England and Wales.

Source: VOA, Non-domestic rating: business floorspace, March 2026, 2023 rating list at 31 March 2026.

How many recent energy certificates in New Forest are rated F or G?

0.6% of the 319 certificates lodged for business premises in the last four quarters (England and Wales: 1.3%); 37% were A or B. Since 1 April 2023 a landlord in England and Wales can't continue to let most non-domestic premises rated F or G unless an exemption is registered.

Source: MHCLG, Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates live tables, tables updated 2026-10-29.

Nearby areas

Rateable value per m², 2023 rating list (VOA, March 2026)
AreaOfficesShops
Southampton£149£132
Eastleigh£153£129
Fareham£128£112
Isle of Wight£71£100

Questions

How many business premises are there in New Forest?
About 7,460 on the VOA's rating list at 31 March 2026, including 1,570 shops, 940 offices and 2,040 industrial premises (counts rounded by the VOA).

Got a draft lease for premises in New Forest? We'll introduce you to an independent SRA-regulated property solicitor, who confirms their fee in writing before any work starts.

Get a lease review quote

Sources

VOA statistics at 31 March 2026 (2023 rating list) and MHCLG EPC tables, retrieved 2026-11-02. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general information, not legal advice, and hasn't been reviewed by a solicitor. Instrukt is not a law firm.