From 1 April 2026, council tax bills rose again across England, Scotland and Wales. The average Band D council tax in England for 2026/27 is approximately £2,391, up from £2,280 in 2025/26 — an increase of about £111 or 5%. Nearly every major English billing authority has applied the full 5% increase allowed without a referendum.
What's changing — the headline numbers
| Area of authority | Average Band D 2026/27 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| London | £2,068 | +4.4% |
| Metropolitan areas | £2,409 | +5.2% |
| Unitary areas | £2,490 | +5.3% |
| Shire areas | £2,452 | +4.6% |
| England average Band D | ~£2,391 | ~+5% |
| Average per dwelling | £1,868 | — |
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Council Tax returns, published March 2026.
The 5% referendum cap — how it breaks down
English councils with responsibility for adult social care can raise council tax by up to 5% without a referendum, broken down as:
- Up to 3% on core council tax (general services: bins, libraries, planning, parks)
- Up to 2% on the adult social care precept (ring-fenced for social care)
A handful of councils have unique referendum principles: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has a maximum of 6.75%; Trafford, Warrington and Windsor & Maidenhead have bespoke arrangements.
According to MoneySavingExpert, of the 384 billing authorities subject to referendum principles, 274 are hiking by the full 5% and another 50 are increasing "close to" 5%. Four authorities have actually cut council tax — for example, Eastleigh residents will see their average Band D bill fall by 8.39%. Seventeen local authorities have held core council tax and the adult social care precept flat.
The highest and lowest Band D bills
Which? analysis of MHCLG data identifies:
- Highest: Dorset — £2,765.02 for Band D (up from £2,630, +5.1%)
- Smallest English increases: Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire (+0.48%) and Rother in East Sussex (+1.31%)
- Parish precepts: average Band D parish precept increase of 8.2% (+£8 on the bill)
Scotland and Wales
There is no 5% cap in Scotland or Wales — local authorities set their own increases:
- Scotland — all 32 councils announced increases from April 2026. Rises range from 4% to 10%, with the widest distribution of all three nations.
- Wales — 22 local authorities raising the average Band D bill by 5.2% in 2026/27, down from 7.2% last year. Vale of Glamorgan has the largest rise at 6.6%, Neath Port Talbot the smallest at 4.1%.
Why council tax keeps going up
The Local Government Association has pointed to a combination of pressures: rising adult social care demand, special educational needs (SEND) funding shortfalls, ongoing real-terms reductions in central government grant, statutory homelessness costs, and public sector wage settlements. Real-terms council funding for 2024/25 was nearly 19% below 2010 levels. Several councils have issued Section 114 notices (effective bankruptcy) in recent years, including Birmingham, Woking, Thurrock and Nottingham.
Check your band — the Martin Lewis angle
An estimated 1 in 8 UK homes are in the wrong council tax band, according to several consumer analyses. England and Scotland council tax bands are still based on property valuations from 1 April 1991 — over 30 years old, and heavily criticised as arbitrary.
You can check your band free via the Valuation Office Agency (GOV.UK) in England and Wales, or the Scottish Assessors Association (saa.gov.uk) in Scotland. However, do not challenge speculatively: a formal reassessment can result in your band moving up as well as down, so bills could rise, not fall.
MoneySavingExpert's Check & Challenge method is the most widely trusted process: compare your band with similar neighbouring properties, then use historic 1991 valuation estimates as supporting evidence before submitting a formal Proposal.
Discounts and support to claim
- Single Person Discount — 25% off if you are the only adult in the property.
- Second Adult Rebate (where available) — reduction if the only other adult has low income.
- Council Tax Support — means-tested local scheme; typically for low-income households on Universal Credit or other benefits.
- Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) disregard — significant discount where a medically certified SMI applies; Martin Lewis has highlighted that one in five English and Welsh councils get this wrong.
- Carer's Discount — 25% where the carer meets specific criteria; widely under-claimed.
- Empty property discount — rules vary, but most councils have reduced or removed this discount in recent years.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Council tax bands, discount eligibility and enforcement procedures are determined by your local billing authority. Always check your specific bill and contact your council directly for discount applications or band challenges.
FAQ
Can I refuse to pay if my bill is wrong?
No. You must keep paying while you challenge. Refusal can trigger aggressive collection action, including court summons and bailiffs, and can add £70–£100+ in costs to your bill.
How do I know if I am in the wrong band?
Compare your property with similar-sized, similar-age properties on your street using the Valuation Office Agency website. If your band looks out of step, work through MoneySavingExpert's Check & Challenge process before filing a Proposal.
Is my council tax going up again next year?
Very likely. With adult social care pressures continuing and funding tight, most councils are expected to again apply close to the maximum cap in 2027/28.
