Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Camden sets its Band D rate in February at a full council meeting; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D and the GLA precept is added to the bill.Camden Council Tax pays for the bills you see each day: street cleaning in Kentish Town, Hampstead, Holborn, Bloomsbury and Belsize Park, social care, local schools and the police and fire precepts that the Greater London Authority collects through the borough. Your bill is split between Camden itself and the GLA precept set at City Hall.
Camden is an inner north London borough running from Holborn up through Camden Town and Kentish Town to Hampstead Heath; the council is run from the Town Hall in Judd Street. The borough is the billing authority, so the bill arrives in its name even though the GLA, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, and the London Fire Commissioner all take a share. Bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency using 1991 property values, and the amount per band is decided each February when Camden sets its budget.
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Band ranges set nationally in 1991. Camden sets the cash amount per band each February.
How Camden sets Council Tax for 2026-27
Camden Council approves its annual budget in February at a full council meeting. The decision sets the Band D rate; every other band is calculated using the national 6/9 to 18/9 schedule.
The bill is split between Camden itself (for housing, adult and children's social care, waste, leisure, planning and most front-line services), the adult social care precept (an extra portion of the Camden charge ring-fenced for social care), and the Greater London Authority precept (police, fire, Mayor of London, transport).
Camden publishes the band-by-band breakdown on its "Council Tax charges" page after the February meeting.
Council Tax bands A to H in Camden
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Camden then sets a Band D rate; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D.
Band A is 6/9ths of Band D, Band B is 7/9ths, Band C is 8/9ths, Band E is 11/9ths, Band F is 13/9ths, Band G is 15/9ths and Band H is 18/9ths. This ratio is fixed by central government and applies the same way in Camden as it does in any other English billing authority.
To check your band, look up your address on the Valuation Office Agency search tool, or use the band shown on your annual bill. If you think the band is wrong because of evidence about your property in 1991, you have a narrow window to challenge it once you first move in.
How to pay Camden Council Tax
Most Camden residents pay by Direct Debit because it spreads the bill across the year and stops any reminder letters arriving. You can usually choose between paying on the 1st, the 15th or the last working day of the month, and you can switch between 10 instalments (the default) or 12 instalments.
Other options at Camden include paying online through the council website using a debit or credit card, paying by automated phone line around the clock, paying at a PayPoint with your bill barcode, or sending a cheque with your reference number written on the back.
If you want 12 instalments instead of 10, you have a legal right to ask for it under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, as amended. Camden must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Discounts and Council Tax Reduction in Camden
The most common discount is the 25 per cent single person discount. If you are the only adult living at the property, you should be paying three-quarters of the full bill. Apply through Camden with proof of who lives at the address.
Council Tax Reduction is the means-tested help available to people on a low income or claiming certain benefits. Camden runs its own scheme within the framework set by central government, and the amount of help depends on income, savings, household make-up and whether anyone in the home is disabled or a carer.
Other reductions worth checking: full-time students are disregarded, a property occupied only by under-18s is exempt, a person with a severe mental impairment is disregarded with a GP certificate, and the disability reduction scheme can drop your bill to the band below your current one if a disabled person needs adapted facilities.
Moving, appeals and arrears in Camden
Tell Camden as soon as you move in or out so the bill is correct from day one. You can usually do this through an online form, and you will need your moving date, the address you are leaving or entering, and details of any other adults at the property.
If you receive a bill you do not agree with, the first step is to write to Camden setting out why. Liability disputes (who should be paying, whether a discount applies) go through the council; banding disputes go to the Valuation Office Agency, then on to the Valuation Tribunal for England if you remain unhappy.
Falling behind on payments triggers a fixed legal sequence: a 7-day reminder, then the loss of your right to instalments and the whole year becoming payable, then a summons to the magistrates' court for a liability order. After that Camden can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Camden charge an empty home premium?
Yes. Like every English billing authority, Camden can apply an empty home premium of up to 100 per cent (after 12 months), 200 per cent (after five years) and 300 per cent (after 10 years) under the Local Government Finance Act 2012 as amended by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
Does Camden charge a second home premium?
Yes. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 gave councils the power to charge a 100 per cent premium on second homes from April 2025. Camden has adopted this; check Camden's "Council Tax charges" page for the year's rules.
When does Camden send out the new Council Tax bill?
Bills are normally posted in March, with the first instalment due on 1 April. Direct Debit payers are taken on their chosen date once the mandate has been updated for the new financial year.
How do I apply for Council Tax Reduction in Camden?
Apply through Camden's online Council Tax Reduction form. Provide income, savings, household details and benefits information. Working age and pensioner schemes differ.
Can I challenge my Camden Council Tax band?
Yes. Contact the Valuation Office Agency. You have six months from first moving in to make a formal proposal. After that, you can ask for an informal review at any time if you have new evidence about the 1991 value of your home.
How We Verified This
Framework verified against gov.uk and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Camden-specific structure (inner London borough, Town Hall in Judd Street, GLA precept) verified against published Camden Council budget papers and the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Sources
- gov.uk - Council Tax overview
- gov.uk - Council Tax bands and reductions
- gov.uk - Apply for Council Tax Reduction
- Valuation Office Agency - How Council Tax bands are set in England and Wales
- Valuation Tribunal England - Council Tax appeal procedures and decisions
- legislation.gov.uk - Local Government Finance Act 1992