Canterbury Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Canterbury is £2,419.33 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£97.60) on last year. That is £27.81 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 133rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (30%), so the average bill per home is about £2,327.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Canterbury council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,612.89 | £161.29 | £134.41 | £1,209.67 | 7,770 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,881.70 | £188.17 | £156.81 | £1,411.28 | 14,280 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,150.52 | £215.05 | £179.21 | £1,612.89 | 21,500 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,419.33 | £241.93 | £201.61 | £1,814.50 | 14,490 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,956.96 | £295.70 | £246.41 | £2,217.72 | 8,090 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,494.59 | £349.46 | £291.22 | £2,620.94 | 4,250 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,032.22 | £403.22 | £336.02 | £3,024.16 | 2,340 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,838.66 | £483.87 | £403.22 | £3,629.00 | 120 |
- Canterbury
- England average
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Where your Canterbury council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Canterbury but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,419.33 Band D charge, £254.43 (11%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £254.43 | 10.5% | £226.16 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 72.7% | £1,563.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 11.8% | £253.47 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.1% | £88.72 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £21.34 | 0.9% | £18.97 |
- District council £254 10.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 72.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £21 0.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Canterbury; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Canterbury council tax history
Band D in Canterbury has risen from £1,565.67 in 2016/17 to £2,419.33 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.7%, the 219th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Canterbury Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,419.33 | +4.2% | £2,150.52 |
| 2025/26 | £2,321.73 | +4.8% | £2,063.76 |
| 2024/25 | £2,214.97 | +4.7% | £1,968.86 |
| 2023/24 | £2,114.65 | +5.0% | £1,879.69 |
| 2022/23 | £2,014.71 | +3.0% | £1,790.85 |
| 2021/22 | £1,955.91 | +4.8% | £1,738.59 |
| 2020/21 | £1,866.22 | +3.8% | £1,658.86 |
| 2019/20 | £1,797.33 | +5.6% | £1,597.63 |
| 2018/19 | £1,702.08 | +4.9% | £1,512.96 |
| 2017/18 | £1,622.88 | +3.7% | £1,442.56 |
| 2016/17 | £1,565.67 | – | £1,391.71 |
Homes by council tax band in Canterbury
Canterbury has 72,840 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 30% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,150.52 a year (£215.05 a month over 10 instalments).
Canterbury compared with South East
Canterbury is the 23rd cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£56.12 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Ashford | £2,410.16 | +4.3% |
| Slough | £2,414.44 | +5% |
| Crawley | £2,418.46 | +4.9% |
| Canterbury | £2,419.33 | +4.2% |
| New Forest | £2,419.76 | +5.1% |
| Horsham | £2,441.01 | +5.1% |
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 | +4.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Canterbury drops from £2,150.52 to £1,612.89.
- Council Tax Reduction: Canterbury 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).
Canterbury's 4.2% 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.
Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable versus the parishes
The three towns, Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable, have no parish council, so they pay the base Band D charge of £2,397.99 in 2026/27. The district's 27 parished areas add their own precept on top. The £2,419.33 average shown above blends the two. The highest village charge is in Womenswold, at £2,558.41 for Band D, which is £160.42 more than in the towns.
| Area | Band D 2026/27 | Extra vs the towns |
|---|---|---|
| Womenswold | £2,558.41 | £160.42 |
| Westbere | £2,528.21 | £130.22 |
| Bridge | £2,524.53 | £126.54 |
| Adisham | £2,506.05 | £108.06 |
| Herne and Broomfield | £2,483.57 | £85.58 |
| Sturry | £2,453.22 | £55.23 |
| Chestfield | £2,445.60 | £47.61 |
| Thanington | £2,432.96 | £34.97 |
| Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable (no parish) | £2,397.99 | – |
Second homes premium in Canterbury from April 2026
Canterbury City Council started charging a 100% premium on second homes on 1 April 2026. A furnished home that is not anyone's main residence now pays 200% of the normal charge, so a Band D second home in the towns pays £4,795.98 a year. Furnished holiday homes that planning rules stop people living in all year round are excepted. So are homes being actively marketed for sale or let (not holiday lets), for up to 12 months.
Long-term empty, unfurnished homes pay a 100% premium after 1 year, 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10 years. The premium stays with the property, so if you buy a home that has already been empty for a year you pay it straight away, until the home is lived in.
Canterbury's working-age Council Tax Support
Working-age support is banded by weekly household income. You cannot get support with capital over £10,000. The award is capped at the Band D charge, so if you live in Band E or above you pay the difference. A flat £10 a week is deducted for each other adult or adult couple living with you, unless an exemption applies. New claims can be backdated up to three months.
| Discount | Single person | Couple | Family, 1 child | Family, 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0–£109 | £0–£164 | £0–£246 | £0–£327 |
| 75% | £109.01–£184 | £164.01–£239 | £246.01–£321 | £327.01–£402 |
| 50% | £184.01–£259 | £239.01–£314 | £321.01–£396 | £402.01–£477 |
| 25% | £259.01–£334 | £314.01–£389 | £396.01–£471 | £477.01–£552 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Canterbury?
£2,419.33 a year in 2026/27, or £241.93 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Canterbury?
Band C: 21,500 of 72,840 homes (30%). A Band C bill is £2,150.52 in 2026/27.
How much has Canterbury council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,321.73 to £2,419.33 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Canterbury?
District council £254.43; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,758.60; Police and crime commissioner £285.15; Fire and rescue authority £99.81; Parish/town council (average) £21.34 (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.
Which parish in Canterbury district has the highest council tax?
Womenswold, at £2,558.41 for Band D in 2026/27. Westbere (£2,528.21) and Bridge (£2,524.53) are next. Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable pay £2,397.99.
When did Canterbury start charging double council tax on second homes?
From 1 April 2026. Furnished homes that are nobody's main residence pay a 100% premium, so 200% of the normal charge.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Support in Canterbury?
Working-age claimants with capital over £10,000 cannot get support. If you get Universal Credit, the council uses DWP's assessment of your capital.
How many instalments can I pay Canterbury council tax in?
10 or 12 monthly instalments, by direct debit, online, by phone or by standing order.
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)
- Canterbury City Council – Council tax charges 2026/27
- Canterbury City Council – Your 2026 council tax bill explained (premiums)
- Canterbury City Council – Council tax support for working age people
- Canterbury City Council – Pay your council tax