East Hertfordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in East Hertfordshire is £2,454.78 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£115.15) on last year. That is £63.26 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 161st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,727.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
East Hertfordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,636.52 | £163.65 | £136.38 | £1,227.39 | 1,010 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,909.27 | £190.93 | £159.11 | £1,431.96 | 6,560 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,182.03 | £218.20 | £181.84 | £1,636.52 | 16,620 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,454.78 | £245.48 | £204.57 | £1,841.09 | 17,250 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,000.29 | £300.03 | £250.02 | £2,250.22 | 12,270 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,545.79 | £354.58 | £295.48 | £2,659.35 | 8,270 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,091.30 | £409.13 | £340.94 | £3,068.48 | 6,000 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,909.56 | £490.96 | £409.13 | £3,682.17 | 870 |
- East Hertfordshire
- England average
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Where your East Hertfordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by East Hertfordshire but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,454.78 Band D charge, £207.03 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £207.03 | 8.4% | £207.03 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,858.19 | 75.7% | £1,858.19 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £280.00 | 11.4% | £280.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £109.56 | 4.5% | £109.56 |
- District council £207 8.4%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858 75.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £280 11.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £110 4.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across East Hertfordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
East Hertfordshire council tax history
Band D in East Hertfordshire has risen from £1,553.68 in 2016/17 to £2,454.78 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.4%, the 84th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- East Hertfordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,454.78 | +4.9% | £2,454.78 |
| 2025/26 | £2,339.63 | +5.1% | £2,339.63 |
| 2024/25 | £2,225.25 | +5.1% | £2,225.25 |
| 2023/24 | £2,116.96 | +4.9% | £2,116.96 |
| 2022/23 | £2,017.22 | +3.9% | £2,017.22 |
| 2021/22 | £1,941.97 | +4.2% | £1,941.97 |
| 2020/21 | £1,864.33 | +4.4% | £1,864.33 |
| 2019/20 | £1,785.90 | +4.1% | £1,785.90 |
| 2018/19 | £1,715.32 | +5.8% | £1,715.32 |
| 2017/18 | £1,621.96 | +4.4% | £1,621.96 |
| 2016/17 | £1,553.68 | – | £1,553.68 |
Homes by council tax band in East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire has 68,850 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 11% 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 D, which costs £2,454.78 a year (£245.48 a month over 10 instalments).
East Hertfordshire compared with East of England
East Hertfordshire is the 34th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£63.58 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Watford | £2,446.70 | +4.4% |
| North Hertfordshire | £2,448.52 | +5% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | £2,452.26 | +5.1% |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +4.9% |
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | +5.1% |
| Cambridge | £2,467.02 | +4.7% |
| Ipswich | £2,468.25 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in East Hertfordshire drops from £2,454.78 to £1,841.09.
- Council Tax Reduction: East Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire'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.
Council Tax Support in East Herts: everyone of working age pays 8.5%
East Herts Council works out working-age Council Tax Support on 91.5% of your bill after discounts. So every working-age household pays at least 8.5%, however low its income. Pension-age claimants are assessed on 100% of the bill.
Worked example: a working-age single person on Universal Credit in a Band C flat gets the 25% single person discount first, leaving £1,636.52. Maximum support covers 91.5% of that, so they still pay £139.10 a year, or about £13.91 a month over 10 instalments.
- Even if the DWP tells the council about your Universal Credit or ESA claim, you still have to fill in the council’s own Council Tax Support form.
- Support normally starts on the Monday after your claim arrives. Working-age claims can be backdated by up to 6 months if you show good cause for applying late.
- Support covers council tax only. It cannot pay court costs, enforcement agent fees or Post Office payment charges.
Paying, empty homes and annexes
Bills can be paid over 10 or 12 monthly instalments, or in larger lump sums at any time. Every payment except direct debit must reach the council on or before the 15th of the month.
East Herts gives no discount on empty homes. An empty, unfurnished home pays the full 100% from day one. The council's published table, last revised for April 2022, charges 200% after two years empty, 300% after five years and 400% after ten. For a Band D home in 2026/27 that is £4,909.56, £7,364.34 and £9,819.12. The premium belongs to the property, but the council can remove it for up to 12 months if new owners move in within a year of buying.
A separately banded annexe gets 50% off if a relative of the main household lives in it, or if the main household uses it as part of their home. People who must live in job-related accommodation also get 50% off council tax on the other home they own.
Of the Band D total of £2,454.78, East Herts Council keeps £207.03. Most of the rest goes to Hertfordshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in East Hertfordshire?
£2,454.78 a year in 2026/27, or £245.48 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in East Hertfordshire?
Band D: 17,250 of 68,850 homes (25%). A Band D bill is £2,454.78 in 2026/27.
How much has East Hertfordshire council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,339.63 to £2,454.78 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in East Hertfordshire?
District council £207.03; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858.19; Police and crime commissioner £280.00; Parish/town council (average) £109.56 (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.
What is the minimum council tax a working-age person pays in East Herts?
At least 8.5% of the bill after discounts, because working-age support is calculated on 91.5% of liability. On a Band A home with no discounts that is £139.10 a year in 2026/27.
When are council tax payments due in East Herts?
Payments other than direct debit must reach the council on or before the 15th of each month. You can choose 10 or 12 instalments.
Is there a discount for an annexe in East Herts?
Yes, 50% if it is lived in by a relative of the main household, or if the main household uses it as part of their home.
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 Herts Council – Council Tax Support
- East Herts Council – Pay your Council Tax
- East Herts Council – Second homes, unoccupied properties and annexes
- East Herts Council – Council Tax amounts 2026/27