The council tax rates for the next year have been confirmed, with rises set to take place from the start of April next week.
The majority of councils in England have announced a council tax increase of 4.99 per cent – the maximum allowed without special permission. The average rise will equate to £109 per household.
But seven councils in England have been allowed to raise their rate by more than this. Shropshire, Worcestershire, and North Somerset have been permitted the highest, each at 8.99 per cent.
Warring, Trafford, and Windsor and Maidenhead will raise rates by 7.49 per cent, while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have been permitted 6.74 per cent.
Households in some of England’s most deprived areas are also set to continue bearing the brunt of high council tax bills, with official figures revealing a significant disparity compared to other regions.
Residents in metropolitan areas, predominantly located across the North and Midlands, face an average annual charge of £2,409 for a Band D property this year.
This contrasts sharply with London boroughs, which encompass both affluent and less prosperous communities, where the average bill stands at £2,068.
Further data indicates that households under unitary councils, also featuring varied levels of wealth, will pay an average of £2,490 for Band D properties. Meanwhile, those served by county-wide councils are set to be charged £2,452.
Across England, the average Band D council tax for 2026/27 is projected to reach £2,392.
This represents a substantial increase of £111, or 4.9 per cent, from the previous year (2025-26), according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
These figures incorporate all additional levies, including adult social care, parish precepts, and costs from police, fire, and regional authorities where applicable.
It is the fourth year in a row that the England-wide increase has averaged around 5 per cent.
Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly said council tax rises were “cooked up in Whitehall”.
He added: “Keir Starmer promised to ease the cost of living and freeze council tax, yet families now face back-to-back hikes and a total council tax take rising by £2.6 million – another broken promise.
“Conservatives will always back hard-working people, delivering better services while keeping council tax down, while Labour, Lib Dems and Reform councils are pushing through the highest rises.”
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said many councils are “acutely aware” of the financial pressures on households as they faced having to increase bills to protect services.
They added: “While council tax is an important funding stream, it cannot solve the long-term pressures facing councils, raising different amounts in different parts of the country – unrelated to need.
“Significant new funding, alongside long-term reform of the local government finance system, remains desperately needed to protect the financial sustainability of councils and ensure they can deliver the services communities expect.”
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