Cumberland Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cumberland is £2,511.32 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£117.42) on last year. That is £119.80 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 210th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (46%), so the average bill per home is about £2,052.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, North West · Official England government statistics
Cumberland council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,674.21 | £167.42 | £139.52 | £1,255.66 | 63,970 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,953.25 | £195.32 | £162.77 | £1,464.94 | 26,070 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,232.28 | £223.23 | £186.02 | £1,674.21 | 20,650 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,511.32 | £251.13 | £209.28 | £1,883.49 | 15,760 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,069.39 | £306.94 | £255.78 | £2,302.04 | 8,550 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,627.46 | £362.75 | £302.29 | £2,720.60 | 2,990 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,185.53 | £418.55 | £348.79 | £3,139.15 | 1,000 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,022.64 | £502.26 | £418.55 | £3,766.98 | 80 |
- Cumberland
- England average
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Where your Cumberland council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cumberland but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,511.32 Band D charge, £2,002.64 (80%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,964.49 | 78.2% | £1,309.66 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £38.15 | 1.5% | £25.43 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £338.94 | 13.5% | £225.96 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £103.14 | 4.1% | £68.76 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £66.60 | 2.7% | £44.40 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,964 78.2%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £339 13.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £103 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £67 2.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cumberland; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cumberland council tax history
Band D in Cumberland has risen from £2,174.56 in 2023/24 to £2,511.32 in 2026/27 — 15% in 3 years. Cumberland was created in 2023, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- Cumberland Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,511.32 | +4.9% | £1,674.21 |
| 2025/26 | £2,393.90 | +4.8% | £1,595.93 |
| 2024/25 | £2,283.83 | +5.0% | £1,522.55 |
| 2023/24 | £2,174.56 | – | £1,449.71 |
Homes by council tax band in Cumberland
Cumberland has 139,070 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 65% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,674.21 a year (£167.42 a month over 10 instalments).
Cumberland compared with North West
Cumberland is the 22nd cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£28.10 less than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wirral | £2,500.59 | +5% |
| Lancaster | £2,503.19 | +4% |
| Westmorland and Furness | £2,507.99 | +5% |
| Cumberland | £2,511.32 | +4.9% |
| Blackpool | £2,513.22 | +5.1% |
| Cheshire West and Chester | £2,517.33 | +5.2% |
| Rossendale | £2,519.97 | +3.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Cumberland drops from £1,674.21 to £1,255.66.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cumberland 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).
Cumberland'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.
Who set what on a Cumberland bill in 2026/27
Cumberland Council raised its charge by 4.99%: 2.99% for general services and 2% for adult social care. Both percentages are applied to last year's total charge, and bills show the rise rounded to 5.0%. The adult social care precept is no longer listed separately. The other two bodies on the bill are the Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, up 5.04%, and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria, up 4.61%. Together the three took the bill up 4.90% before parish precepts.
| Body | Share of bill | 2026/27 increase | Band D (area average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Council (incl. adult social care) | 81.92% | 4.99% | £2,002.64 |
| Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria | 13.86% | 4.61% | £338.94 |
| Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority | 4.22% | 5.04% | £103.14 |
Second homes in Cumberland: apply by former district
Cumberland Council adopted a 100% second homes premium on 6 March 2024, and it took effect on 1 April 2025. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays 200%: £5,022.64 at the average Band D, or £3,906.50 at Band B. Cumberland covers the former Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland districts, and you still apply for an exception using the form for the area where the home is.
Seasonal homes that planning rules stop people living in all year are excepted. So are job-related homes, annexes, caravan pitches and boat moorings. Homes marketed for sale or let get up to 12 months. The council notes the job-related exception does not cover someone who simply keeps a second property nearer work while the family home is elsewhere. Where employment requires you to live in one of two furnished homes, a 50% discount can apply instead.
Empty homes and Council Tax Reduction
- Since 1 April 2024 an empty, unfurnished home gets 100% off for up to one month, then pays the full charge.
- After 12 months empty a 100% premium applies, rising to 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10. That is up to £10,045.28 a year at Band D.
- Exceptions to the premium must be applied for, using the form for Allerdale, Carlisle or Copeland depending on where the home is.
- Council Tax Reduction can cover up to 100% of the bill for eligible low-income households.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cumberland?
£2,511.32 a year in 2026/27, or £251.13 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cumberland?
Band A: 63,970 of 139,070 homes (46%). A Band A bill is £1,674.21 in 2026/27.
How much has Cumberland council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,393.90 to £2,511.32 at Band D. Since 2023/24 it has risen 15%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cumberland?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,964.49; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38.15; Police and crime commissioner £338.94; Fire and rescue authority £103.14; Parish/town council (average) £66.60 (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.
Does Cumberland charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 second homes pay 200%, following a decision on 6 March 2024. Exceptions include homes marketed for sale or let (up to 12 months) and seasonal homes with planning restrictions.
How much did Cumberland council tax rise in 2026/27?
Cumberland Council rose 4.99%, the fire authority 5.04% and the police 4.61%, a combined 4.90% before parish precepts.
Is there an empty home discount in Cumberland?
Yes, 100% for up to one month. After that the full charge applies, and a premium starts after 12 months.
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)
- Cumberland Council – Guide to Council Tax 2026 to 2027 (PDF)
- Cumberland Council – Second homes and exceptions to the premium
- Cumberland Council – Empty homes and long-term empty home premium
- Cumberland Council – Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions