East Hampshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in East Hampshire is £2,343.92 for 2026/27, up 5% (£112.28) on last year. That is £47.60 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 85th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (24%), so the average bill per home is about £2,564.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
East Hampshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,562.61 | £156.26 | £130.22 | £1,171.96 | 3,090 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,823.05 | £182.30 | £151.92 | £1,367.29 | 6,470 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,083.48 | £208.35 | £173.62 | £1,562.61 | 13,700 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,343.92 | £234.39 | £195.33 | £1,757.94 | 11,710 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,864.79 | £286.48 | £238.73 | £2,148.59 | 9,320 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,385.66 | £338.57 | £282.14 | £2,539.25 | 7,070 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,906.53 | £390.65 | £325.54 | £2,929.90 | 5,190 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,687.84 | £468.78 | £390.65 | £3,515.88 | 680 |
- East Hampshire
- England average
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Where your East Hampshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by East Hampshire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,343.92 Band D charge, £156.92 (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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £156.92 | 6.7% | £139.48 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,690.11 | 72.1% | £1,502.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £290.46 | 12.4% | £258.19 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.84 | 4.0% | £82.52 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £113.59 | 4.8% | £100.97 |
- District council £157 6.7%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690 72.1%
- Police and crime commissioner £290 12.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £114 4.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across East Hampshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
East Hampshire council tax history
Band D in East Hampshire has risen from £1,502.56 in 2016/17 to £2,343.92 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.3%, the 141st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- East Hampshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,343.92 | +5.0% | £2,083.48 |
| 2025/26 | £2,231.64 | +5.1% | £1,983.68 |
| 2024/25 | £2,123.67 | +4.7% | £1,887.71 |
| 2023/24 | £2,028.25 | +5.0% | £1,802.89 |
| 2022/23 | £1,931.56 | +3.3% | £1,716.94 |
| 2021/22 | £1,870.05 | +4.8% | £1,662.27 |
| 2020/21 | £1,784.36 | +4.1% | £1,586.10 |
| 2019/20 | £1,713.85 | +3.9% | £1,523.42 |
| 2018/19 | £1,649.53 | +5.5% | £1,466.25 |
| 2017/18 | £1,564.02 | +4.1% | £1,390.24 |
| 2016/17 | £1,502.56 | – | £1,335.61 |
Homes by council tax band in East Hampshire
East Hampshire has 57,230 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 17% 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 £2,083.48 a year (£208.35 a month over 10 instalments).
East Hampshire compared with South East
East Hampshire is the 11th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£131.53 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Rushmoor | £2,320.28 | +4.9% |
| Medway | £2,328.55 | +5.1% |
| Eastleigh | £2,342.21 | +5.1% |
| East Hampshire | £2,343.92 | +5% |
| Gosport | £2,344.29 | +4.8% |
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | +4.8% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in East Hampshire drops from £2,083.48 to £1,562.61.
- Council Tax Reduction: East Hampshire 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).
East Hampshire's 5% 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.
Council tax support in East Hampshire can cover the whole bill
East Hampshire's 2026/27 Council Tax Support scheme still lets working-age claimants get up to 100% of their bill paid, just like pensioners. The capital limit is £16,000 for everyone. Support is means-tested: your income is compared with what the scheme says you need to live on, and it is reduced by 20p for every £1 above that.
Worked example: a working-age claimant on a low enough income in a Band C home (£2,083.48 in 2026/27) can have the full amount covered. Under an 80% cap, such as Ealing applies to most working-age households, the same household would still pay £416.70 a year.
Apply online through the council’s benefits form; you can check eligibility first with the benefits calculator linked from its council tax support page. Claims are not always backdated, so apply as soon as your income drops.
Empty homes: the rules changed in April 2026
From 1 April 2026 East Hampshire brought forward its empty homes premium. It now starts after one year empty instead of two. An unfurnished empty home gets a 50% discount for its first six months, From six months to a year the full charge applies. The premium is worked out from the date the home first became empty, even if that was before April 2026.
- The council treats a home as furnished if it has essentials such as beds, wardrobes, seating, a cooker or microwave and a fridge-freezer.
- After probate, a home can be exempt for up to six months, followed by a further six-month exception from the premium.
- Owners of homes empty for at least two years may get a letter from the private sector housing team confirming a reduced VAT rate on renovation work.
| Time empty and unfurnished | Charge | Band D bill (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | 50% discount | £1,171.96 |
| 6 to 12 months | 100% | £2,343.92 |
| 1 to 5 years | 200% | £4,687.84 |
| 5 to 10 years | 300% | £7,031.76 |
| 10 years or more | 400% | £9,375.68 |
Care leavers and annexes
Hampshire County Council care leavers aged 18 to 25 who live in the district pay nothing until their 25th birthday. The council tops up any other discount to 100%, so a care leaver living alone in a Band B home is spared the £1,367.29 they would otherwise owe after the single person discount.
Less than 7p of every £1 paid goes to East Hampshire District Council itself. Its Band D share is £156.92, while Hampshire County Council takes about 72p.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in East Hampshire?
£2,343.92 a year in 2026/27, or £234.39 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in East Hampshire?
Band C: 13,700 of 57,230 homes (24%). A Band C bill is £2,083.48 in 2026/27.
How much has East Hampshire council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,231.64 to £2,343.92 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in East Hampshire?
District council £156.92; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690.11; Police and crime commissioner £290.46; Fire and rescue authority £92.84; Parish/town council (average) £113.59 (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.
Can working-age people get 100% council tax support in East Hampshire?
Yes. The 2026/27 scheme allows a maximum reduction of 100% for both pension-age and working-age claimants, subject to income and a £16,000 capital limit.
Is there a discount on empty homes in East Hampshire?
Yes, a 50% discount for the first six months that a home is empty and unfurnished. Full council tax applies from six to 12 months, and a premium starts after a year (from April 2026).
Do care leavers pay council tax in East Hampshire?
Hampshire County Council care leavers aged 18 to 25 living in the district get a 100% discount on what they owe after other discounts, until their 25th birthday.
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)
- East Hampshire District Council – Council tax support
- East Hampshire District Council – Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- East Hampshire District Council – Empty and unfurnished properties
- East Hampshire District Council – Empty homes premium: April 2026 changes (PDF)
- East Hampshire District Council – Council tax information 2026-27 (PDF)
- East Hampshire District Council – Council tax discount for care leavers
- East Hampshire District Council – Your council tax 2026/27 insert (PDF)