Commercial property to rent in Southend-on-Sea: 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 Southend-on-Sea?

As of March 2026, Southend-on-Sea has about 5,680 business premises on the rating list, with offices at an average rateable value of £103 per m² and shops at £111 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 Southend-on-Sea? 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

What does commercial property rent for in Southend-on-Sea?

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£103£5,150£10,300£25,750
Shop£111£5,550£11,100£27,750
Industrial£50£2,500£5,000£12,500

Business premises in Southend-on-Sea

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
Shops2,180£111£144
Offices740£103£204
Industrial1,130£50£42

Energy ratings of business premises in Southend-on-Sea

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
Southend-on-Sea0107277361410
England and Wales8388,15530,60330,67312,9205,645552598

What to check before you sign

More questions about premises in Southend-on-Sea

What is the rateable value of shops in Southend-on-Sea?

£111 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 2,180 shops: 23% below 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 Southend-on-Sea?

£103 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 740 offices: 50% 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 Southend-on-Sea?

£50 per m² on the 2023 list, across about 1,130 industrial premises: 19% above 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 Southend-on-Sea are rated F or G?

0.5% of the 210 certificates lodged for business premises in the last four quarters (England and Wales: 1.3%); 39% 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
Rochford£107£142
Castle Point£101£122
Basildon£131£146
Chelmsford£166£167

Questions

How many business premises are there in Southend-on-Sea?
About 5,680 on the VOA's rating list at 31 March 2026, including 2,180 shops, 740 offices and 1,130 industrial premises (counts rounded by the VOA).

Got a draft lease for premises in Southend-on-Sea? 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.