Bridgend Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bridgend is £2,477.99 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£120.36) on last year. That is £194.91 above the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 19th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,352.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Bridgend council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,651.99 | £165.20 | £137.67 | £1,239.00 | 10,610 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,927.33 | £192.73 | £160.61 | £1,445.49 | 15,370 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £2,202.66 | £220.27 | £183.55 | £1,651.99 | 14,850 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,477.99 | £247.80 | £206.50 | £1,858.49 | 11,070 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £3,028.65 | £302.87 | £252.39 | £2,271.49 | 8,040 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,579.32 | £357.93 | £298.28 | £2,684.49 | 4,490 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £4,129.98 | £413.00 | £344.17 | £3,097.49 | 1,510 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,955.98 | £495.60 | £413.00 | £3,716.98 | 300 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,781.98 | £578.20 | £481.83 | £4,336.48 | 110 |
- Bridgend
- Wales average
Your result is ready
Where your Bridgend council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bridgend but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,477.99 Band D charge, £2,007.06 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £2,007.06 | 81.0% | £1,561.05 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £405.14 | 16.3% | £315.11 |
| Community council (average) | £65.79 | 2.7% | £51.17 |
- County/county borough council £2,007 81.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £405 16.3%
- Community council (average) £66 2.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Bridgend; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Bridgend council tax history
Band D in Bridgend has risen from £1,542.40 in 2016/17 to £2,477.99 in 2026/27 — 61% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.9%, the 16th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Bridgend Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,477.99 | +5.1% | £1,927.33 |
| 2025/26 | £2,357.63 | +5.0% | £1,833.71 |
| 2024/25 | £2,244.55 | +9.4% | £1,745.76 |
| 2023/24 | £2,052.40 | +5.2% | £1,596.31 |
| 2022/23 | £1,951.31 | +0.7% | £1,517.69 |
| 2021/22 | £1,937.33 | +4.0% | £1,506.81 |
| 2020/21 | £1,862.14 | +4.8% | £1,448.33 |
| 2019/20 | £1,777.19 | +6.0% | £1,382.26 |
| 2018/19 | £1,675.82 | +5.2% | £1,303.42 |
| 2017/18 | £1,592.58 | +3.3% | £1,238.67 |
| 2016/17 | £1,542.40 | – | £1,199.64 |
Homes by council tax band in Bridgend
Bridgend has 66,350 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 39% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,927.33 a year (£192.73 a month over 10 instalments).
Bridgend compared with Wales
Bridgend is the 19th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£151.85 less than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Ceredigion | £2,419.45 | +5.4% |
| 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 B bill in Bridgend drops from £1,927.33 to £1,445.49.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bridgend 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).
Bridgend's 5.1% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Bridgend's premium: double, then triple
Bridgend charges long-term empty homes 200% for their first two years on the premium, then 300% until they are sold or lived in. Second homes have been on the same two-step rule since 1 April 2024. At the average Band D that is about £4,955.98, then £7,433.97. The council says the policy is working: long-term empty homes fell from 795 at 31 March 2025 to 568 a year later, a drop of over 28%. In 2025/26 premiums raised £781,529 from empty homes and £160,937 from second homes. The money supports housing and homelessness services.
Bridgend's budget and payment options
Bridgend plans to spend £548 million in 2026/27. Council tax funds about 20p in every pound (£112 million), and Welsh Government grant and business rates 54p. Welsh Government funding for Bridgend rose 4.6% (£13.6 million), which the council says is needed for pay awards and inflation. It still needs £2.35 million of savings. At Band D the council share is £2,007.06 and South Wales Police adds £405.14.
Unless you pay by Direct Debit, instalments are due on or before the 15th, starting in April with nine more to follow. Direct Debit can be taken on the 5th, 15th, 20th or 31st, and you can choose 10 or 12 months in My Account. The automated card line is 01656 642088.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bridgend?
£2,477.99 a year in 2026/27, or £247.80 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bridgend?
Band B: 15,370 of 66,350 homes (23%). A Band B bill is £1,927.33 in 2026/27.
How much has Bridgend council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,357.63 to £2,477.99 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 61%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bridgend?
County/county borough council £2,007.06; Police and crime commissioner £405.14; Community council (average) £65.79 (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 do empty homes pay in Bridgend?
200% of the normal charge for the first two years on the premium, then 300%. That is about £7,433.97 at the average Band D.
Has Bridgend's premium reduced empty homes?
Yes. The council reports long-term empty homes fell from 795 to 568 between March 2025 and March 2026.
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
- Bridgend County Borough Council – Council tax premiums for long-term empty properties and second homes
- Bridgend County Borough Council – Council Tax Budget Overview Leaflet 2026-27 (PDF)
- Bridgend County Borough Council – Pay your council tax
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027