Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Lewisham 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 your bill as a separate line.Lewisham Council Tax pays for the bills you see each day: street cleaning in Catford, Deptford, Sydenham, Forest Hill and Lee Green, social care, local schools and the police and fire precepts that the Greater London Authority collects through the borough. Your bill is split between Lewisham itself and the GLA precept set at City Hall.
Lewisham is a south-east London borough run by a directly elected mayor and council from the Civic Suite in Catford. 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 Lewisham 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. Lewisham sets the cash amount per band each February.
How Lewisham sets Council Tax for 2026-27
Lewisham 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 Lewisham 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 Lewisham charge ring-fenced for social care), and the Greater London Authority precept (police, fire, Mayor of London, transport).
Lewisham publishes the band-by-band breakdown on its "Council Tax charges" page after the February meeting.
Council Tax bands A to H in Lewisham
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Lewisham 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 Lewisham 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 Lewisham Council Tax
Most Lewisham 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 Lewisham 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. Lewisham must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Discounts and Council Tax Reduction in Lewisham
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 Lewisham 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. Lewisham 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 Lewisham
Tell Lewisham 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 Lewisham 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 Lewisham can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lewisham have an elected mayor like Hackney?
Yes. Lewisham operates under the Local Government Act 2000 mayoral model. The mayor proposes the budget through the cabinet, and the full council votes on the Band D rate at the February budget meeting.
When does Lewisham 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 claim Council Tax Reduction in Lewisham?
Apply through Lewisham's online Council Tax Reduction form. Provide income, savings, household details and benefits information. Working age and pensioner schemes are different.
Can I split my Lewisham Council Tax across 12 instalments?
Yes. You have a legal right to ask for 12 instalments under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992. Ask Lewisham in writing before the year starts on 1 April.
Where can I find Lewisham's actual band-by-band figures?
On Lewisham's "Council Tax charges" page, updated within a few days of the February budget meeting. The figures are shown band by band, split between the Lewisham portion, the adult social care precept and the GLA precept.
How We Verified This
Framework verified against gov.uk and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Lewisham-specific structure (elected mayor, Civic Suite in Catford, GLA precept) verified against published Lewisham 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