Ealing Council Tax 2026/27

How Ealing's Council Tax Reduction bands work in 2026/27

Ealing's working-age Council Tax Reduction covers up to 80% of the bill for most households, and up to 100% for "protected" groups. Your band depends on weekly household income with all state benefits left out, so it is earnings, pensions and other private income that count. Anyone with more than £6,000 in savings and investments gets nothing.

Protected groups include single parents with a child under 5, people getting Carer's Allowance, PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance or ESA, Universal Credit claimants with limited capability for work or a disabled-child or carer element, care leavers under 25, and people on Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Worked example: a non-protected single person with weekly income of £190 is in Band 3 and gets 50% off. In a Band C home (£1,900.92 in 2026/27) they pay £950.46. A protected claimant on the same income gets 60% off and pays £760.37.

• Couples and single parents not on Universal Credit can deduct £38.54 a week from income before checking the table.
• Self-employed claimants are assumed to earn at least 35 hours a week at the National Living Wage (16 hours for lone parents and the lower earner in a self-employed couple).
• Other adults in the home reduce support by £8.35 a week if not working, £15.42 if earning under £235.16 gross a week, and £23.13 if earning more. Full-time students cost nothing.

Empty homes and second homes in Ealing

An empty, unfurnished home in Ealing gets a 100% discount for at most 14 days from when it first becomes empty. A buyer only gets whatever is left of that original 14 days, and a stay of less than six weeks does not reset the clock. After a year empty the bill doubles, after five years it trebles and after ten years it is four times the normal charge. These premiums have applied since 1 April 2024. On a Band D home empty for over ten years that is £8,554.12.

Second homes and furnished homes with no main resident pay a 100% premium. The council says this includes short-term rentals such as B&Bs and serviced apartments. You must pay the full bill while an exception claim is checked. To claim one, email the council with your account number, the address, the words "premium exception claim" and your evidence, such as a letting or estate agent contract.

Ealing collects in 10 monthly instalments, due by the 1st of each month. Through My Account you can switch to 12 instalments from April to March or choose a different direct debit date. If you pay late more than twice in a year, you lose the right to pay by instalments.