Blaenau Gwent Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Blaenau Gwent is £2,531.26 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£102.83) on last year. That is £248.18 above the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 20th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (58%), so the average bill per home is about £1,916.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Blaenau Gwent council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,687.51 | £168.75 | £140.63 | £1,265.63 | 19,210 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,968.76 | £196.88 | £164.06 | £1,476.57 | 8,160 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £2,250.01 | £225.00 | £187.50 | £1,687.51 | 2,760 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,531.26 | £253.13 | £210.94 | £1,898.45 | 1,830 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £3,093.76 | £309.38 | £257.81 | £2,320.32 | 900 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,656.26 | £365.63 | £304.69 | £2,742.20 | 350 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £4,218.77 | £421.88 | £351.56 | £3,164.08 | 70 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £5,062.52 | £506.25 | £421.88 | £3,796.89 | – |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,906.27 | £590.63 | £492.19 | £4,429.71 | 20 |
- Blaenau Gwent
- Wales average
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Where your Blaenau Gwent council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Blaenau Gwent but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,531.26 Band D charge, £2,090.51 (83%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £2,090.51 | 82.6% | £1,393.67 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £403.53 | 15.9% | £269.02 |
| Community council (average) | £37.22 | 1.5% | £24.81 |
- County/county borough council £2,091 82.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £404 15.9%
- Community council (average) £37 1.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Blaenau Gwent; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Blaenau Gwent council tax history
Band D in Blaenau Gwent has risen from £1,694.66 in 2016/17 to £2,531.26 in 2026/27 — 49% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 21.8%, the 22nd biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Blaenau Gwent Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,531.26 | +4.2% | £1,687.51 |
| 2025/26 | £2,428.43 | +5.4% | £1,618.95 |
| 2024/25 | £2,302.99 | +5.6% | £1,535.33 |
| 2023/24 | £2,181.84 | +4.0% | £1,454.56 |
| 2022/23 | £2,098.66 | +1.0% | £1,399.11 |
| 2021/22 | £2,078.20 | +3.4% | £1,385.47 |
| 2020/21 | £2,009.29 | +4.2% | £1,339.53 |
| 2019/20 | £1,927.73 | +5.5% | £1,285.15 |
| 2018/19 | £1,827.94 | +4.2% | £1,218.63 |
| 2017/18 | £1,753.99 | +3.5% | £1,169.33 |
| 2016/17 | £1,694.66 | – | £1,129.77 |
Homes by council tax band in Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent has 33,300 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 82% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,687.51 a year (£168.75 a month over 10 instalments).
Blaenau Gwent compared with Wales
Blaenau Gwent is the 20th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£205.12 less than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Gwynedd | £2,468.77 | +5.5% |
| Conwy | £2,472.82 | +6.5% |
| Bridgend | £2,477.99 | +5.1% |
| Blaenau Gwent | £2,531.26 | +4.2% |
| Neath Port Talbot | £2,541.39 | +4.1% |
| Merthyr Tydfil | £2,593.60 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Blaenau Gwent drops from £1,687.51 to £1,265.63.
- Council Tax Reduction: Blaenau Gwent runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Blaenau Gwent's 4.2% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Blaenau Gwent's new premiums
Blaenau Gwent started its long-term empty premium on 1 April 2025, ignoring any time a home was empty before 1 April 2024. Homes pay a 100% premium after one to two years empty, 200% after two to three years and 300% after three years. At the average Band D that is £5,062.52, £7,593.78 and £10,125.04. A 100% premium on second homes started on 1 April 2026. The Welsh Government's 2026/27 returns show 571 chargeable empty homes.
Lower bands and single-person households
Over half of Blaenau Gwent's homes are in Band A, so the typical bill is far below Band D: £1,687.51 for Band A in 2026/27. 39.4% of homes get the 25% single-person discount, the highest share in Wales (Welsh average 36.2%). The council's tax base assumes a 95.5% collection rate, the lowest in Wales.
You can pay by Direct Debit, standing order, online, through the 24-hour automated line on 0161 621 2977, at a Post Office or PayPoint, or with the QR code on the back of your bill. At Band D the council share is £2,090.51 and Gwent Police adds £403.53.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Blaenau Gwent?
£2,531.26 a year in 2026/27, or £253.13 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Blaenau Gwent?
Band A: 19,210 of 33,300 homes (58%). A Band A bill is £1,687.51 in 2026/27.
How much has Blaenau Gwent council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,428.43 to £2,531.26 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 49%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Blaenau Gwent?
County/county borough council £2,090.51; Police and crime commissioner £403.53; Community council (average) £37.22 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
Does Blaenau Gwent charge a second home premium?
Yes, 100% from 1 April 2026. A second home pays about £5,062.52 at the average Band D.
What do most Blaenau Gwent households pay?
Most homes are in Band A, which costs £1,687.51 in 2026/27, or £1,265.63 with single-person discount.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Blaenau Gwent CBC – Council Tax Premium for Long Term Empty Property
- Blaenau Gwent CBC – Pay Your Council Tax
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027