Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Hackney Council, led by a directly elected mayor, sets its Band D rate in February at a full council meeting; the GLA precept is added and the borough then bills, collects and enforces the combined Council Tax.Hackney as a London borough has a particular constitutional setup that shapes its Council Tax process. It is one of 32 London boroughs, but unlike most of its neighbours it has a directly elected mayor who proposes the budget. The full council then debates and approves it.
As a billing authority Hackney is responsible for setting the Band D rate, scaling the other bands using the national 6/9 to 18/9 schedule, adding the GLA precept set at City Hall, sending out the bills, taking payment, granting discounts and exemptions, and (where necessary) enforcing arrears through the magistrates' court. The Valuation Office Agency, not Hackney, decides which band each property sits in.
| 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; Hackney sets only the cash amount per band each February.
Hackney's borough structure and the budget cycle
Hackney has a directly elected mayor who leads the council's political executive (the cabinet) and is responsible for proposing the annual budget. The mayor and cabinet draft the budget over the autumn; a public consultation runs into January; and the full council debates and votes on the budget in February.
That February meeting is where the Council Tax Band D rate is formally set. Once approved, the rate is published, scaled to the other bands and combined with the GLA precept to produce the bill that arrives in March.
The budget book, the medium-term financial strategy and the equalities impact assessment of the budget are all published on Hackney's website in the weeks leading up to the vote.
Council Tax bands A to H as used in Hackney
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Hackney 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 Hackney 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 Hackney bills, collects and chases Council Tax
Hackney sends bills in March each year, covering the period from 1 April to 31 March. The default arrangement is 10 monthly instalments between April and January, but residents can request 12 monthly instalments under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 by asking in writing before the year starts.
Direct Debit dates are typically the 1st, the 15th or the last working day of the month. Other payment methods include online card payment, automated phone payment, PayPoint at the corner shop and standing order (rare). Payments are credited within a few working days.
If an instalment is missed Hackney sends a 7-day reminder. A second missed instalment ends the right to pay by instalments and the whole year becomes payable. After a final notice, Hackney can apply to the magistrates' court for a liability order, which gives access to enforcement agents, attachment of earnings, attachment of benefits or a charging order against the property.
Discounts and reductions Hackney can award
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 Hackney 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. Hackney 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 and the role of the Valuation Office Agency
Hackney does not decide which band your property sits in. That is the job of the Valuation Office Agency, an arm's-length body of HMRC, which keeps the Council Tax valuation list for every billing authority in England.
If you want to challenge your band, you usually have six months from first moving in to make a formal proposal. After that, you can ask for an informal review at any time, but the VOA will only change the band when there is solid evidence about the 1991 value. Once you exhaust the VOA route, the Valuation Tribunal for England can hear an appeal.
Liability disputes (who should be paying, whether a discount applies) go through Hackney first, with the Valuation Tribunal for England as the eventual independent appeal route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hackney's elected mayor decide the Council Tax rate alone?
No. The mayor proposes the budget through the cabinet, but the Band D rate is formally set by a vote of the full council in February. The mayor cannot impose a rate without council approval.
Can Hackney raise Council Tax by any amount it wants?
No. Each year central government sets a cap on the increase that councils with social care responsibility can make without holding a local referendum. Hackney must stay within the cap or trigger a referendum, which has rarely been done in any council since the cap was introduced.
Why is the GLA precept on my Hackney bill?
The Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires every London billing authority to add a single GLA precept to the bill, which funds the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London responsibilities and the Mayor of London's office. Hackney has no choice about this.
How does Hackney enforce unpaid Council Tax?
After a reminder and a final notice, Hackney applies for a liability order at the magistrates' court. That order gives access to enforcement agents, attachment of earnings, attachment of benefits and a charging order against the property. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 governs the conduct of enforcement agents.
Where can I find the full Hackney budget book?
On the Hackney Council website, in the area covering full council agendas and committee papers. The budget book is published with the agenda for the February budget meeting and is normally available a few weeks in advance.
How We Verified This
Hackney constitutional setup verified against Hackney's published constitution and the Local Government Act 2000 (elected mayor model). Billing, collection and enforcement framework verified against the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992.
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