Cambridge Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cambridge is £2,467.02 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£111.61) on last year. That is £75.50 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 175th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (34%), so the average bill per home is about £2,449.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Cambridge council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,644.68 | £164.47 | £137.06 | £1,233.51 | 4,410 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,918.79 | £191.88 | £159.90 | £1,439.10 | 11,160 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,192.91 | £219.29 | £182.74 | £1,644.68 | 20,980 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,467.02 | £246.70 | £205.59 | £1,850.26 | 10,710 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,015.25 | £301.52 | £251.27 | £2,261.44 | 6,100 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,563.47 | £356.35 | £296.96 | £2,672.61 | 4,050 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,111.70 | £411.17 | £342.64 | £3,083.77 | 3,260 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,934.04 | £493.40 | £411.17 | £3,700.53 | 510 |
- Cambridge
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Cambridge council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cambridge but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,467.02 Band D charge, £239.07 (10%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, mayoral combined authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £239.07 | 9.7% | £212.51 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,785.42 | 72.4% | £1,587.04 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £314.37 | 12.7% | £279.44 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.16 | 3.7% | £81.92 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £36.00 | 1.5% | £32.00 |
- District council £239 9.7%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,785 72.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £314 12.7%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 3.7%
- Mayoral combined authority £36 1.5%
Cambridge council tax history
Band D in Cambridge has risen from £1,597.54 in 2016/17 to £2,467.02 in 2026/27 — 54% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.9%, the 44th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Cambridge Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,467.02 | +4.7% | £2,192.91 |
| 2025/26 | £2,355.41 | +4.7% | £2,093.70 |
| 2024/25 | £2,248.95 | +5.8% | £1,999.07 |
| 2023/24 | £2,126.16 | +5.5% | £1,889.92 |
| 2022/23 | £2,014.66 | +4.5% | £1,790.81 |
| 2021/22 | £1,928.39 | +3.3% | £1,714.12 |
| 2020/21 | £1,866.42 | +3.5% | £1,659.04 |
| 2019/20 | £1,803.01 | +5.5% | £1,602.68 |
| 2018/19 | £1,709.06 | +4.8% | £1,519.16 |
| 2017/18 | £1,630.71 | +2.1% | £1,449.52 |
| 2016/17 | £1,597.54 | – | £1,420.04 |
Homes by council tax band in Cambridge
Cambridge has 61,180 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 25% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,192.91 a year (£219.29 a month over 10 instalments).
Cambridge compared with East of England
Cambridge is the 36th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£75.82 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Welwyn Hatfield | £2,452.26 | +5.1% |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +4.9% |
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | +5.1% |
| Cambridge | £2,467.02 | +4.7% |
| Ipswich | £2,468.25 | +4.7% |
| Bedford | £2,471.74 | +5.1% |
| South Norfolk | £2,482.87 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Cambridge drops from £2,192.91 to £1,644.68.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cambridge 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).
Cambridge's 4.7% 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.
Cambridge's Universal Credit council tax scheme: a fixed weekly contribution
Cambridge City Council runs two Council Tax Reduction schemes for working-age residents. Most of the design work has gone into the one for Universal Credit claimants. Instead of a percentage discount, it sets a flat weekly amount you pay towards council tax, based on the earned income of you and your partner. Deductions for other adults in the home come on top. Because the bands are wide, small changes in monthly pay usually do not trigger a new bill.
Example: a Universal Credit claimant earning £200 a week in a Band B flat pays £15 a week, or £780 over the year, plus any deductions for other adults. The full Band B charge is £1,918.79, so the scheme covers about £1,138.79. With no earnings, the contribution is £0 and the whole bill can be covered.
If you claim Universal Credit and tell DWP you want help with council tax, your details are passed to the council automatically, so you do not need a separate claim. Working-age residents not on Universal Credit are assessed under a separate local scheme that works like the pension-age scheme. You cannot get Council Tax Reduction with savings over £16,000 unless you get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
| Weekly earned income (you and partner) | Weekly contribution to council tax |
|---|---|
| Under £96, or not working | £0 |
| £96 – £164.99 | £8 |
| £165 – £247.99 | £15 |
| £248 – £329.99 | £23 |
| £330 – £412.99 | £31 |
| £413 – £495.99 | £39 |
| £496 – £577.99 | £47 |
| £578 or more | Full council tax |
Second homes and empty homes in Cambridge
Cambridge decided on 25 March 2024 to charge a 100% premium, double the normal bill, on homes empty and unfurnished for more than 12 months and on furnished second homes. That means £4,934.04 for a Band D home in 2026/27. The council's definition of a second home is broad. It covers any furnished property that is nobody's main residence, including empty rental homes, inherited homes and homes for sale. The national exceptions still apply, such as up to 12 months while a home is actively marketed for sale or let.
Who gets the money, and how to pay
Cambridge has no parish councils, so every home in a given band pays the same: £2,467.02 at Band D in 2026/27, up from £2,355.41. The city council keeps £239.07 of that. Cambridgeshire County Council takes £1,785.42. The rest goes to the police and crime commissioner, the fire authority and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, whose £36.00 precept appears as a separate line.
Direct debit dates are the 5th, 15th or 25th of the month. Most people pay in 10 instalments from April to January, and you can phone to switch to 12.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cambridge?
£2,467.02 a year in 2026/27, or £246.70 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cambridge?
Band C: 20,980 of 61,180 homes (34%). A Band C bill is £2,192.91 in 2026/27.
How much has Cambridge council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £2,355.41 to £2,467.02 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 54%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cambridge?
District council £239.07; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,785.42; Police and crime commissioner £314.37; Fire and rescue authority £92.16; Mayoral combined authority £36.00 (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 does Council Tax Reduction work for Universal Credit claimants in Cambridge?
You pay a fixed weekly contribution based on household earnings, from £0 if you earn under £96 a week up to £47 a week if you earn £496 to £577.99, plus any deductions for other adults living with you. The council gets your details from DWP automatically.
Does Cambridge charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Furnished homes that are nobody's main residence pay a 100% premium, so £4,934.04 at Band D in 2026/27.
What direct debit dates does Cambridge City Council offer?
The 5th, 15th or 25th of the month, over 10 instalments by default or 12 on request.
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)
- Cambridge City Council – Council Tax Reduction (income bands and contributions)
- Cambridge City Council – Council Tax for empty and second homes
- Cambridge City Council – Council Tax bands and charges 2026/27
- Cambridge City Council – Paying your Council Tax