Charnwood Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Charnwood is £2,405.64 for 2026/27, up 3.4% (£78.14) on last year. That is £14.12 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 119th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,206.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
Charnwood council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,603.76 | £160.38 | £133.65 | £1,202.82 | 13,380 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,871.05 | £187.11 | £155.92 | £1,403.29 | 22,100 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,138.35 | £213.83 | £178.20 | £1,603.76 | 19,550 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,405.64 | £240.56 | £200.47 | £1,804.23 | 11,620 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,940.23 | £294.02 | £245.02 | £2,205.17 | 7,730 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,474.81 | £347.48 | £289.57 | £2,606.11 | 3,460 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,009.40 | £400.94 | £334.12 | £3,007.05 | 2,100 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,811.28 | £481.13 | £400.94 | £3,608.46 | 230 |
- Charnwood
- England average
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Where your Charnwood council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Charnwood but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,405.64 Band D charge, £177.09 (7%) 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 B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £177.09 | 7.4% | £137.74 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,731.79 | 72.0% | £1,346.95 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £315.23 | 13.1% | £245.18 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £91.65 | 3.8% | £71.28 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £89.88 | 3.7% | £69.91 |
- District council £177 7.4%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,732 72.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £315 13.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £90 3.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Charnwood; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Charnwood council tax history
Band D in Charnwood has risen from £1,556.31 in 2016/17 to £2,405.64 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.3%, the 245th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Charnwood Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,405.64 | +3.4% | £1,871.05 |
| 2025/26 | £2,327.50 | +4.9% | £1,810.28 |
| 2024/25 | £2,219.31 | +4.7% | £1,726.13 |
| 2023/24 | £2,118.69 | +5.1% | £1,647.87 |
| 2022/23 | £2,016.31 | +3.3% | £1,568.24 |
| 2021/22 | £1,951.39 | +4.9% | £1,517.75 |
| 2020/21 | £1,859.83 | +3.9% | £1,446.53 |
| 2019/20 | £1,790.77 | +4.8% | £1,392.82 |
| 2018/19 | £1,709.02 | +6.0% | £1,329.24 |
| 2017/18 | £1,612.57 | +3.6% | £1,254.22 |
| 2016/17 | £1,556.31 | – | £1,210.46 |
Homes by council tax band in Charnwood
Charnwood has 80,170 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 44% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,871.05 a year (£187.11 a month over 10 instalments).
Charnwood compared with East Midlands
Charnwood is the 15th cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£51.77 more than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hinckley and Bosworth | £2,382.62 | +3.4% |
| High Peak | £2,384.66 | +4.8% |
| Harborough | £2,389.87 | +2.8% |
| Charnwood | £2,405.64 | +3.4% |
| Oadby and Wigston | £2,406.85 | +3.3% |
| Amber Valley | £2,407.69 | +4.8% |
| North West Leicestershire | £2,418.20 | +3.4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Charnwood drops from £1,871.05 to £1,403.29.
- Council Tax Reduction: Charnwood 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).
Charnwood's 3.4% 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.
Charnwood starts charging on second homes in 2026/27
Charnwood Borough Council's Cabinet approved a 100% second homes premium on 12 March 2025, and it took effect on 1 April 2026. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays double: £4,811.28 at the average Band D rate, or £4,276.69 for a Band C home. If you own several homes but each is let or lived in as someone's main home, none of them counts as a second home.
At the same meeting the council changed its long-term empty homes premium. It now applies after one year empty, at up to 100% for 1 to 5 years, 200% for 5 to 10 years and 300% for over 10 years. The premium follows the property, so check before buying an empty home in Charnwood. Short re-occupations do not reset the clock: a home must be lived in or substantially furnished for at least six continuous weeks.
Local Council Tax Support: everyone pays at least 15%
Under Charnwood's 2026/27 Local Council Tax Support scheme, working-age claimants must pay at least 15% of their bill. On a Band A home at the area average (£1,603.76) that is about £240.56 a year even with the maximum award. If that causes severe financial hardship, the council can give extra help on request. Pension-age residents who are the only person liable for the bill and share their home with one or more other adults can claim Second Adult Rebate instead.
Payment dates in Charnwood
- Bills are normally paid in 10 instalments on the 1st of each month from April to January, with nothing due in February and March.
- Direct debit payers can choose the 3rd, 15th or 25th of the month instead.
- You can apply in writing for 12 instalments. If you apply after 15 April, the bill is spread over the full months left in the year, so each payment is larger.
- If your home has not yet been banded by the VOA, Charnwood cannot set up a direct debit. You can make voluntary payments in the meantime to avoid a large bill spread over fewer months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Charnwood?
£2,405.64 a year in 2026/27, or £240.56 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Charnwood?
Band B: 22,100 of 80,170 homes (28%). A Band B bill is £1,871.05 in 2026/27.
How much has Charnwood council tax gone up?
3.4% this year, from £2,327.50 to £2,405.64 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Charnwood?
District council £177.09; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,731.79; Police and crime commissioner £315.23; Fire and rescue authority £91.65; Parish/town council (average) £89.88 (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.
When did Charnwood start the second homes premium?
On 1 April 2026. Cabinet approved it on 12 March 2025, and furnished homes with no permanent resident now pay double council tax.
How long does a Charnwood home need to be occupied to reset the empty homes premium?
At least six continuous weeks of occupation or substantial furnishing. Shorter breaks do not reset the empty period.
What is the minimum council tax payment for Council Tax Support claimants in Charnwood?
Working-age claimants pay at least 15% of the bill in 2026/27. Extra help is available in cases of severe financial hardship.
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)
- Charnwood Borough Council – Empty Homes Premium (second homes from April 2026)
- Charnwood Borough Council – Local Council Tax Support and second adult rebate
- Charnwood Borough Council – How to pay your council tax
- Charnwood Borough Council – How much is my Council Tax?