Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Brighton and Hove City Council is a unitary authority that sets its Band D rate each February; Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire add separate precepts to the bill.Brighton and Hove City Council Tax funds adult social care, children's services, waste collection, libraries and the local police and fire precepts in the wards across central Brighton, Hove, Patcham, Hangleton, Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb and Rottingdean and across the rest of the borough. As a metropolitan authority Brighton and Hove City acts as the billing authority for the whole area, so the bill arrives in one envelope even though several bodies take a share.
The amount per band is set each year, normally in February, when Brighton and Hove City approves its budget and the Sussex police and fire authorities confirm their precepts. Bands are decided by the Valuation Office Agency using 1991 property values, and any change to the property (or to your circumstances) can affect what you pay.
| 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. Brighton and Hove sets the cash amount per band each February.
How Brighton and Hove sets Council Tax rates
Brighton and Hove City Council approves its annual budget in February at a full council meeting. The decision sets the Band D rate, confirms the adult social care precept and lists the Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue precepts.
As a unitary authority Brighton and Hove is the full-service local authority for the city: education, adult and children's social care, housing, waste, leisure, planning and roads. East Sussex County Council does not bill in Brighton and Hove; West Sussex County Council does not either.
Full figures for the year are published on Brighton and Hove's "Council Tax charges" page after the February meeting, alongside the budget book.
Council Tax bands A to H in Brighton and Hove
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Brighton and Hove 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 Brighton and Hove 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 Brighton and Hove Council Tax
Most Brighton and Hove City Council 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 Brighton and Hove City Council 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. Brighton and Hove City Council must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Discounts and Council Tax Reduction in Brighton and Hove
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 Brighton and Hove City Council 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. Brighton and Hove City Council 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.
Banding, moving and arrears in Brighton and Hove
Tell Brighton and Hove City Council 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 Brighton and Hove City Council 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 Brighton and Hove City Council can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brighton and Hove part of East Sussex for Council Tax?
No. Brighton and Hove became a unitary authority in 1997 and is administratively separate from East Sussex County Council. East Sussex does not bill or set a precept in the city.
What is the Sussex Police precept on my Brighton and Hove bill?
It is the share of your Council Tax that funds Sussex Police, which covers East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove. The amount per band is set by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner each February.
When does Brighton and Hove send out the new 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 Brighton and Hove?
Apply through Brighton and Hove's online Council Tax Reduction form. Provide income, savings, household details and benefits information. Working age and pensioner schemes differ.
Can I challenge my Brighton and Hove 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
Brighton and Hove unitary status verified against the Brighton and Hove (Structural Change) Order 1996. Framework verified against the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire arrangements verified against published budget papers.