Cheltenham Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cheltenham is £2,369.52 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£111.24) on last year. That is £22.00 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 100th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,211.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South West · Official England government statistics
Cheltenham council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,579.68 | £157.97 | £131.64 | £1,184.76 | 10,020 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,842.96 | £184.30 | £153.58 | £1,382.22 | 13,540 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,106.24 | £210.62 | £175.52 | £1,579.68 | 14,220 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,369.52 | £236.95 | £197.46 | £1,777.14 | 9,520 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,896.08 | £289.61 | £241.34 | £2,172.06 | 5,300 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,422.64 | £342.26 | £285.22 | £2,566.98 | 2,820 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,949.20 | £394.92 | £329.10 | £2,961.90 | 2,220 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,739.04 | £473.90 | £394.92 | £3,554.28 | 160 |
- Cheltenham
- England average
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Where your Cheltenham council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cheltenham but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,369.52 Band D charge, £252.11 (11%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £252.11 | 10.6% | £224.10 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,763.46 | 74.4% | £1,567.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £340.58 | 14.4% | £302.74 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £13.37 | 0.6% | £11.88 |
- District council £252 10.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763 74.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £341 14.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £13 0.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cheltenham; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cheltenham council tax history
Band D in Cheltenham has risen from £1,541.24 in 2016/17 to £2,369.52 in 2026/27 — 54% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.3%, the 184th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Cheltenham Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,369.52 | +4.9% | £2,106.24 |
| 2025/26 | £2,258.28 | +4.7% | £2,007.36 |
| 2024/25 | £2,156.86 | +4.7% | £1,917.21 |
| 2023/24 | £2,059.43 | +4.8% | £1,830.60 |
| 2022/23 | £1,964.26 | +3.0% | £1,746.01 |
| 2021/22 | £1,906.22 | +4.5% | £1,694.42 |
| 2020/21 | £1,823.49 | +3.6% | £1,620.88 |
| 2019/20 | £1,759.78 | +5.5% | £1,564.25 |
| 2018/19 | £1,667.70 | +4.5% | £1,482.40 |
| 2017/18 | £1,595.72 | +3.5% | £1,418.42 |
| 2016/17 | £1,541.24 | – | £1,369.99 |
Homes by council tax band in Cheltenham
Cheltenham has 57,800 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 41% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,106.24 a year (£210.62 a month over 10 instalments).
Cheltenham compared with South West
Cheltenham is the 4th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£141.88 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Isles of Scilly | £2,047.96 | +5% |
| Tewkesbury | £2,340.53 | +5.1% |
| Gloucester | £2,355.84 | +4.9% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Cheltenham drops from £2,106.24 to £1,579.68.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cheltenham 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).
Cheltenham's 4.9% 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.
Cheltenham's Council Tax Support scheme is being reviewed for 2027/28
About 6,300 Cheltenham households get Council Tax Support, which costs just under £8 million a year. Around 69% of them are working age. The cost is shared between the borough, Gloucestershire County Council and the police, in proportion to their share of the bill, so most of it falls on the county. Cheltenham last made major changes in April 2019, when some working-age claimants had to start paying more, with further tweaks in April 2020.
The council consulted on a revised working-age scheme for 1 April 2027; the consultation closed on 2 October 2026. Full council is due to decide the new scheme in December 2026, so 2027/28 rules may differ from this year's. Pension-age claimants are not affected, because their scheme is set nationally.
For now, you apply online with evidence, which must arrive within one calendar month or the claim is treated as defective. The council aims to decide complete claims within 14 days. Single pension-age residents who share with a low-income adult who pays no rent can claim Second Adult Rebate.
Empty homes and second homes in Cheltenham
Cheltenham gives a 25% discount on empty, unfurnished homes for up to six months. After that the full charge applies, and a premium is added after a year. Full council agreed these premiums on 23 February 2024. For an average Band D home (£2,369.52 in 2026/27), the cost rises like this:
- Carpets, curtains, built-in wardrobes and fitted appliances such as cookers and fridges do not make a home "furnished". Any other furniture can.
- The empty period starts when the home first became empty and does not restart when it changes hands. A buyer may find the six-month discount already used up.
- The council says there is no right of appeal against its decision to charge premiums, but the national exceptions still apply.
| Time empty and unfurnished | Charge | Band D bill |
|---|---|---|
| First 6 months | 75% (25% discount) | £1,777.14 |
| 6 months to 1 year | 100% | £2,369.52 |
| 1 to 5 years | 200% | £4,739.04 |
| 5 to 10 years | 300% | £7,108.56 |
| Over 10 years | 400% | £9,478.08 |
| Second home (furnished, no resident) | 200% | £4,739.04 |
Where the money goes and how to pay
Of an average Band D bill, Cheltenham Borough Council keeps £252.11 (about 11%). Gloucestershire County Council takes £1,763.46 and the police and crime commissioner £340.58, with parish precepts making up the rest. There is no separate fire precept, because Gloucestershire County Council runs the fire service. Homes in parished areas such as Charlton Kings or Leckhampton with Warden Hill pay a little more.
Bills are normally paid in 10 monthly instalments from April. Direct debit dates are the 1st, 15th or 28th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cheltenham?
£2,369.52 a year in 2026/27, or £236.95 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cheltenham?
Band C: 14,220 of 57,800 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,106.24 in 2026/27.
How much has Cheltenham council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,258.28 to £2,369.52 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 54%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cheltenham?
District council £252.11; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763.46; Police and crime commissioner £340.58; Parish/town council (average) £13.37 (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 is the empty property discount in Cheltenham?
25% for up to six months from when the home became empty and unfurnished. The six months are linked to the property, so a new owner may get none of it.
Is Cheltenham changing its Council Tax Support scheme?
It consulted until 2 October 2026 on a revised working-age scheme from 1 April 2027. Full council is due to decide in December 2026.
Why is there no fire precept on a Cheltenham council tax bill?
Fire and rescue in Gloucestershire is run by the county council, so its cost is inside the Gloucestershire County Council share rather than a separate line.
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)
- Cheltenham Borough Council – Empty property and second homes discounts and premium charges
- Cheltenham Borough Council – Council tax support scheme review for 2027/28
- Cheltenham Borough Council – Council tax support
- Cheltenham Borough Council – Information to go with your council tax bill 2026/27
- Cheltenham Borough Council – Pay council tax
- Gloucestershire County Council – Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service