Gravesham Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Gravesham is £2,408.24 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£95.18) on last year. That is £16.72 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 125th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (34%), so the average bill per home is about £2,321.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Gravesham council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,605.49 | £160.55 | £133.79 | £1,204.12 | 3,680 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,873.08 | £187.31 | £156.09 | £1,404.81 | 7,060 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,140.66 | £214.07 | £178.39 | £1,605.49 | 15,350 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,408.24 | £240.82 | £200.69 | £1,806.18 | 11,060 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,943.40 | £294.34 | £245.28 | £2,207.55 | 4,810 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,478.57 | £347.86 | £289.88 | £2,608.93 | 2,140 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,013.73 | £401.37 | £334.48 | £3,010.30 | 1,100 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,816.48 | £481.65 | £401.37 | £3,612.36 | 110 |
- Gravesham
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Gravesham council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Gravesham but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,408.24 Band D charge, £245.07 (10%) 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 | £245.07 | 10.2% | £217.84 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 73.0% | £1,563.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 11.8% | £253.47 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.1% | £88.72 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £19.61 | 0.8% | £17.43 |
- District council £245 10.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 73.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £20 0.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Gravesham; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Gravesham council tax history
Band D in Gravesham has risen from £1,552.98 in 2016/17 to £2,408.24 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.0%, the 200th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Gravesham Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,408.24 | +4.1% | £2,140.66 |
| 2025/26 | £2,313.06 | +4.9% | £2,056.05 |
| 2024/25 | £2,205.28 | +4.8% | £1,960.25 |
| 2023/24 | £2,103.76 | +5.0% | £1,870.01 |
| 2022/23 | £2,003.27 | +3.1% | £1,780.68 |
| 2021/22 | £1,942.47 | +4.9% | £1,726.64 |
| 2020/21 | £1,852.50 | +3.9% | £1,646.67 |
| 2019/20 | £1,783.47 | +5.6% | £1,585.31 |
| 2018/19 | £1,689.13 | +4.9% | £1,501.45 |
| 2017/18 | £1,609.89 | +3.7% | £1,431.01 |
| 2016/17 | £1,552.98 | – | £1,380.43 |
Homes by council tax band in Gravesham
Gravesham has 45,310 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 24% 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 £2,140.66 a year (£214.07 a month over 10 instalments).
Gravesham compared with South East
Gravesham is the 19th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£67.21 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | +5.1% |
| Hart | £2,400.02 | +5% |
| Swale | £2,405.65 | +4.3% |
| Gravesham | £2,408.24 | +4.1% |
| Ashford | £2,410.16 | +4.3% |
| Slough | £2,414.44 | +5% |
| Crawley | £2,418.46 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Gravesham drops from £2,140.66 to £1,605.49.
- Council Tax Reduction: Gravesham 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).
Gravesham's 4.1% 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.
Gravesham dropped its empty-home premium in April 2025
Gravesham Borough Council removed its premiums from 1 April 2025, when many councils were adding them. Its empty-property page says long-term empty homes no longer pay a premium, so they pay the normal 100%. Second homes also pay 100%, with no premium. Owners who were paying the old premium had it removed automatically.
Instead, Gravesham gives short discounts. A home that becomes empty after being lived in for at least six weeks can get 100% off for up to one month. A vacant, unfurnished home that needs major repair or structural work (not just refurbishment) can get 100% off for up to a year from when it first became empty. On an average Band D home that year-long discount is worth up to £2,408.24 at 2026/27 rates. The council warns that empty-property discounts can change each year, so check its page before relying on them.
Council Tax Reduction can still cover 100%
Gravesham’s working-age scheme is an income grid that can still reduce the bill by 100%, the same maximum as for pensioners. Anyone getting Income Support, income-based JSA or income-related ESA gets 100% automatically, as long as their capital is under £16,000. Above £6,000 of savings, the council counts £1 a week of income for every £250.
Worked example: a lone parent with two children and net weekly income of £340 is in the 75% band. In a Band C home (£2,140.66 in 2026/27) they pay £535.16. If they work, £25 of earnings is ignored, bringing their income to £315 and the reduction to 100%.
- Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit, child maintenance, PIP, DLA, the ESA support component and UC housing costs are not counted as income.
- A further £40 a week is ignored if you, your partner or a child is disabled. Each other adult in the home reduces support by £10 a week.
- Direct debits can be taken on the 3rd, 14th, 21st or 28th of the month.
| Discount | Single person | Couple | Lone parent, 2+ children | Couple, 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0 to £143 | £0 to £198 | £0 to £316 | £0 to £372 |
| 75% | £143.01 to £198 | £198.01 to £254 | £316.01 to £372 | £372.01 to £428 |
| 50% | £198.01 to £273 | £254.01 to £329 | £372.01 to £446 | £428.01 to £502 |
| 25% | £273.01 to £347 | £329.01 to £403 | £446.01 to £521 | £502.01 to £570 |
| 0% | Over £347 | Over £403 | Over £521 | Over £570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Gravesham?
£2,408.24 a year in 2026/27, or £240.82 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Gravesham?
Band C: 15,350 of 45,310 homes (34%). A Band C bill is £2,140.66 in 2026/27.
How much has Gravesham council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,313.06 to £2,408.24 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Gravesham?
District council £245.07; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,758.60; Police and crime commissioner £285.15; Fire and rescue authority £99.81; Parish/town council (average) £19.61 (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 Gravesham charge a premium on empty or second homes?
Not under the rules on its website from 1 April 2025. Long-term empty homes and second homes pay the standard 100% charge, with no premium.
Can working-age people get 100% Council Tax Reduction in Gravesham?
Yes. The lowest income band on the 2026/27 grid gives 100% off, for example a single person with weekly income up to £143. People on passported benefits also get 100%.
Why does council tax differ between Gravesend, Cobham and Higham?
Parish precepts. In 2026/27 a Band D home in Gravesend and Northfleet, which has no parish council, pays £2,388.63. The same band pays £2,514.88 in Cobham and £2,492.38 in Higham.
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)
- Gravesham Borough Council – Council Tax and empty properties
- Gravesham Borough Council – Council Tax Reduction scheme
- Gravesham Borough Council – Council Tax bands and charges
- Gravesham Borough Council – Ways to pay