Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is £2,435.58 for 2026/27, up 7.5% (£170.80) on last year. That is £44.06 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 143rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (29%), so the average bill per home is about £2,328.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,623.72 | £162.37 | £135.31 | £1,217.79 | 26,850 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,894.34 | £189.43 | £157.86 | £1,420.75 | 34,660 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,164.96 | £216.50 | £180.41 | £1,623.72 | 54,470 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,435.58 | £243.56 | £202.97 | £1,826.69 | 36,140 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,976.82 | £297.68 | £248.07 | £2,232.62 | 21,890 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,518.06 | £351.81 | £293.17 | £2,638.55 | 9,470 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,059.30 | £405.93 | £338.28 | £3,044.48 | 5,840 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,871.16 | £487.12 | £405.93 | £3,653.37 | 1,330 |
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- England average
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Where your Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,435.58 Band D charge, £1,980.46 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,943.35 | 79.8% | £1,727.42 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.11 | 1.5% | £32.99 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £322.58 | 13.2% | £286.74 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £96.95 | 4.0% | £86.18 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £35.59 | 1.5% | £31.64 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,943 79.8%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £323 13.2%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £36 1.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council tax history
Band D in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has risen from £1,787.81 in 2019/20 to £2,435.58 in 2026/27 — 36% in 7 years. Over the last five years it rose 29.4%, the 12th biggest increase of 296 councils in England. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was created in 2019, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,435.58 | +7.5% | £2,164.96 |
| 2025/26 | £2,264.78 | +5.0% | £2,013.14 |
| 2024/25 | £2,157.20 | +5.0% | £1,917.51 |
| 2023/24 | £2,055.34 | +5.1% | £1,826.97 |
| 2022/23 | £1,955.24 | +3.9% | £1,737.99 |
| 2021/22 | £1,882.11 | +2.2% | £1,672.99 |
| 2020/21 | £1,841.77 | +3.0% | £1,637.13 |
| 2019/20 | £1,787.81 | – | £1,589.16 |
Homes by council tax band in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has 190,650 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 32% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,164.96 a year (£216.50 a month over 10 instalments).
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole compared with South West
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is the 7th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£75.82 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham | £2,369.52 | +4.9% |
| Bath and North East Somerset | £2,383.42 | +5.2% |
| Cotswold | £2,391.65 | +5% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £2,435.58 | +7.5% |
| Swindon | £2,438.10 | +5.2% |
| Plymouth | £2,441.85 | +5% |
| Forest of Dean | £2,443.42 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole drops from £2,164.96 to £1,623.72.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- 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).
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's 7.5% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Why BCP could raise council tax by 6.74%
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is one of the councils that the government allowed to go above the usual 4.99% referendum limit for 2026/27. It was given an extra 1.75%, and the council used it, raising its own charge by 6.74%. BCP said this works out at £10.42 a month at Band D and would raise just under £5 million. The same announcement covered BCP's special educational needs (SEND) deficit: the government said it could fund 90% (£165.2 million) of that deficit, subject to a reform plan. BCP estimated that would still leave at least £38 million of debt at 31 March 2028.
BCP's published Band D charge is £1,980.46 for the council, £322.58 for Dorset Police and £96.95 for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire, a total of £2,399.99 before any parish or town council. Bills then differ by parish. In 2026/27 the town and parish charges at Band D range from £18.42 in Burton and Winkton to £74.44 in Christchurch Town, so a Band D home in Christchurch Town pays £2,474.43.
Empty homes, second homes and holiday lets
BCP gives no discount for homes that are empty, unfurnished, newly built or undergoing major works. Since 1 April 2024 an empty unfurnished home pays 200% after 12 months, 300% after five years and 400% after ten. Second homes, including furnished homes between lets, have paid 200% since 1 April 2025. At the unparished Band D rate that means £4,799.98 a year.
Some holiday lets are not on council tax at all. Since 1 April 2023, self-catering properties that meet the letting tests over the previous 12 months are valued for business rates instead. You need written evidence, such as dated listings, to get a premium exception for a home being marketed for sale or rent.
Council Tax Support, care leavers and direct debits
- Working-age claimants pay a minimum contribution. Support is worked out on the full bill if you are of pension credit age, get a war disablement or war widow's pension, or get a disability, enhanced or severe disability, disabled child or carer premium, ESA support component, or the Universal Credit LCWRA element.
- BCP fully disregards war disablement and war widow's pensions (for both claimant and partner) when working out support.
- Care-experienced young people get a discretionary discount of up to 100% from age 18 to 23 and 50% at age 24. It ends on their 25th birthday.
- Direct debit dates: the 1st, 15th or 25th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
£2,435.58 a year in 2026/27, or £243.56 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Band C: 54,470 of 190,650 homes (29%). A Band C bill is £2,164.96 in 2026/27.
How much has Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council tax gone up?
7.5% this year, from £2,264.78 to £2,435.58 at Band D. Since 2019/20 it has risen 36%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,943.35; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.11; Police and crime commissioner £322.58; Fire and rescue authority £96.95; Parish/town council (average) £35.59 (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.
How much did BCP Council increase council tax in 2026/27?
BCP raised its own share by 6.74%, after the government allowed it an extra 1.75% above the 4.99% referendum limit. Including police and fire, the unparished Band D bill is £2,399.99.
Do second homes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole pay double council tax?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 furnished homes that are nobody's main residence, including homes between lets, pay 200%.
Do care leavers pay council tax in BCP?
Care-experienced young people can get up to 100% off from age 18 to 23, and 50% at age 24.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- BCP Council – Council Tax bands and charges 2026 to 2027
- BCP Council – Council cautiously welcomes government’s SEND and council tax announcements
- BCP Council – Charges for unoccupied furnished or unfurnished properties
- BCP Council – How Council Tax Support is calculated
- BCP Council – Care leaver Council Tax discount
- BCP Council – Pay your Council Tax