Crawley Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Crawley is £2,418.46 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£111.97) on last year. That is £26.94 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 131st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (48%), so the average bill per home is about £2,294.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Crawley council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,612.31 | £161.23 | £134.36 | £1,209.23 | 1,300 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,881.02 | £188.10 | £156.75 | £1,410.77 | 7,730 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,149.74 | £214.97 | £179.15 | £1,612.31 | 22,560 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,418.46 | £241.85 | £201.54 | £1,813.85 | 9,090 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,955.90 | £295.59 | £246.32 | £2,216.92 | 3,830 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,493.33 | £349.33 | £291.11 | £2,620.00 | 2,360 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,030.77 | £403.08 | £335.90 | £3,023.08 | 470 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,836.92 | £483.69 | £403.08 | £3,627.69 | 10 |
- Crawley
- England average
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Where your Crawley council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Crawley but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,418.46 Band D charge, £246.19 (10%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £246.19 | 10.2% | £218.84 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,890.36 | 78.2% | £1,680.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 11.7% | £250.59 |
- District council £246 10.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890 78.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 11.7%
Crawley council tax history
Band D in Crawley has risen from £1,546.07 in 2016/17 to £2,418.46 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.7%, the 164th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Crawley Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,418.46 | +4.9% | £2,149.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,306.49 | +4.8% | £2,050.21 |
| 2024/25 | £2,199.96 | +4.8% | £1,955.52 |
| 2023/24 | £2,098.66 | +5.0% | £1,865.48 |
| 2022/23 | £1,999.44 | +3.1% | £1,777.28 |
| 2021/22 | £1,939.31 | +5.0% | £1,723.83 |
| 2020/21 | £1,847.54 | +3.9% | £1,642.26 |
| 2019/20 | £1,777.42 | +5.6% | £1,579.93 |
| 2018/19 | £1,682.68 | +4.9% | £1,495.72 |
| 2017/18 | £1,603.54 | +3.7% | £1,425.37 |
| 2016/17 | £1,546.07 | – | £1,374.28 |
Homes by council tax band in Crawley
Crawley has 47,350 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 19% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is C, which costs £2,149.74 a year (£214.97 a month over 10 instalments).
Crawley compared with South East
Crawley is the 22nd cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£56.99 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Gravesham | £2,408.24 | +4.1% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Crawley drops from £2,149.74 to £1,612.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Crawley 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).
Crawley'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.
Crawley keeps 11p in every pound
Crawley Borough Council collects the bill but says it keeps only about 11% of it: £246.19 at Band D in 2026/27. It says West Sussex County Council takes nearly 78% (£1,890.36) and Sussex Police just over 11% (£281.91). The council collects for just these three bodies, with no parish precept, so every home in the same band pays exactly the same. For the two cheapest bands the council publishes the full split:
| 2026/27 | Crawley BC | West Sussex CC | Sussex PCC | Total | Rise on last year | One adult (25% off) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £164.13 | £1,260.24 | £187.94 | £1,612.31 | +£74.65 | £1,209.23 |
| Band B | £191.48 | £1,470.28 | £219.26 | £1,881.02 | +£87.09 | £1,410.77 |
Empty homes: seven days, then the full charge
An empty, substantially unfurnished home in Crawley gets 100% off for only its first seven days. After that the full charge applies. Since 1 April 2025 a 100% premium has been added after one year empty, down from two years before. The premium rises to 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10. To be excepted while a home is uninhabitable because of major structural work, you need a surveyor's report, planning or building control documents and photographs. The exception lasts up to 12 months.
Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, so double council tax: £4,836.92 at Band D. Crawley's definition includes homes kept for work but not lived in full time, and investment properties that are furnished but not let on a long-term basis. Each exception needs specific evidence, such as an agent's listing, an employer's letter, a Ministry of Defence letter or the planning restriction.
Council Tax Reduction and paying
- Working-age households cannot get Council Tax Reduction if they have more than £9,000 in savings and capital, a higher limit than the £6,000 many councils use. At pension age the limit is £16,000, unless you get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
- If you get Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, the council says you will normally get enough to cover all your council tax, less any deductions for other adults living with you.
- You claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction through the myBenefits portal, using your myCrawley account.
- Direct debit dates are the 1st, 15th or 25th of the month. Other payments are due on the 1st. You can email or phone to switch from 10 to 12 instalments.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Crawley?
£2,418.46 a year in 2026/27, or £241.85 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Crawley?
Band C: 22,560 of 47,350 homes (48%). A Band C bill is £2,149.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Crawley council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,306.49 to £2,418.46 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Crawley?
District council £246.19; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890.36; Police and crime commissioner £281.91 (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 long is an empty property discount in Crawley?
Seven days at 100%. After that the full charge applies, and a 100% premium is added once the home has been empty and unfurnished for over a year.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Reduction in Crawley?
£9,000 for working-age households and £16,000 at pension age, unless you get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
How much did Crawley council tax go up in 2026/27?
By 4.9% overall. A Band A bill rose £74.65 to £1,612.31, and a Band B bill £87.09 to £1,881.02.
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)
- Crawley Borough Council – Council Tax charges 2026/27
- Crawley Borough Council – Empty property charges
- Crawley Borough Council – Council Tax on second homes
- Crawley Borough Council – Claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction
- Crawley Borough Council – How to pay