Hastings Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Hastings is £2,676.58 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£122.44) on last year. That is £285.06 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 285th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (33%), so the average bill per home is about £2,223.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Hastings council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,784.39 | £178.44 | £148.70 | £1,338.29 | 15,050 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,081.78 | £208.18 | £173.48 | £1,561.34 | 12,720 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,379.18 | £237.92 | £198.27 | £1,784.39 | 7,960 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,676.58 | £267.66 | £223.05 | £2,007.44 | 5,860 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,271.38 | £327.14 | £272.61 | £2,453.53 | 2,400 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,866.17 | £386.62 | £322.18 | £2,899.63 | 870 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,460.97 | £446.10 | £371.75 | £3,345.73 | 200 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,353.16 | £535.32 | £446.10 | £4,014.87 | 40 |
- Hastings
- England average
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Where your Hastings council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Hastings but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,676.58 Band D charge, £316.89 (12%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £316.89 | 11.8% | £211.26 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,960.29 | 73.2% | £1,306.86 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 10.5% | £187.94 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £117.49 | 4.4% | £78.33 |
- District council £317 11.8%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960 73.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 10.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £117 4.4%
Hastings council tax history
Band D in Hastings has risen from £1,732.86 in 2016/17 to £2,676.58 in 2026/27 — 54% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.5%, the 131st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Hastings Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,676.58 | +4.8% | £1,784.39 |
| 2025/26 | £2,554.14 | +4.8% | £1,702.76 |
| 2024/25 | £2,437.47 | +4.7% | £1,624.98 |
| 2023/24 | £2,328.17 | +4.9% | £1,552.11 |
| 2022/23 | £2,219.29 | +4.1% | £1,479.53 |
| 2021/22 | £2,132.55 | +3.6% | £1,421.70 |
| 2020/21 | £2,058.24 | +3.7% | £1,372.16 |
| 2019/20 | £1,983.86 | +4.0% | £1,322.57 |
| 2018/19 | £1,907.83 | +5.6% | £1,271.89 |
| 2017/18 | £1,807.00 | +4.3% | £1,204.67 |
| 2016/17 | £1,732.86 | – | £1,155.24 |
Homes by council tax band in Hastings
Hastings has 45,100 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 62% 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 £1,784.39 a year (£178.44 a month over 10 instalments).
Hastings compared with South East
Hastings is the 60th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£201.13 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | £2,612.77 | +5.1% |
| Isle of Wight | £2,625.79 | +5.3% |
| Eastbourne | £2,654.28 | +4.8% |
| Hastings | £2,676.58 | +4.8% |
| Oxford | £2,678.40 | +4.7% |
| Rother | £2,700.95 | +5.5% |
| Wealden | £2,728.43 | +4.6% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Hastings drops from £1,784.39 to £1,338.29.
- Council Tax Reduction: Hastings 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).
Hastings's 4.8% 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.
Hastings Council Tax Reduction: full support, capped at Band D
Hastings' 2026/27 scheme can still cover 100% of the bill, but only up to the Band D amount. Someone in a Band F home on the lowest income could get no more than £2,676.58, the Band D charge, and would pay the remaining £1,189.59 themselves. Income above your applicable amount reduces support by 25p for every £1, a steeper taper than the 20p in the national pension-age rules. Savings over £16,000 rule out a claim. Allowances for children are limited to two for new claims and changes made since April 2019.
Empty homes, second homes and care leavers in Hastings
Hastings phased its empty homes premium in step by step: 100% from April 2019 (up from 50%), 200% for 5 years from April 2020, 300% for 10 years from April 2021, and a one-year trigger from April 2024. No discount is given for homes undergoing structural repairs. The premium stays with the property, so a buyer of a long-empty house inherits it. Second homes have paid 200% since 1 April 2025, while job-related second homes can get 50% off.
Care leavers get 100% off until the day before their 25th birthday, after any national discounts. A care leaver who is jointly liable with someone who is not a care leaver gets 50%. Hastings defines a care leaver broadly, as any adult who spent time in care as a child, whether in foster care, a children's home or another arrangement outside the family. The discount can be applied for any period from 1 April 2018.
- Direct debit dates: the 1st, 15th or 23rd. You can spread payments over 12 months, from April to March.
- If you pay in full, pay within 14 days of the bill. There is no prompt-payment discount. You can also pay half-yearly, by 1 April and 1 September.
- Hastings Borough Council's own Band D share is £316.89. East Sussex County Council's is £1,960.29.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Hastings?
£2,676.58 a year in 2026/27, or £267.66 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Hastings?
Band A: 15,050 of 45,100 homes (33%). A Band A bill is £1,784.39 in 2026/27.
How much has Hastings council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,554.14 to £2,676.58 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 54%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Hastings?
District council £316.89; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960.29; Police and crime commissioner £281.91; Fire and rescue authority £117.49 (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.
Is Council Tax Reduction in Hastings capped?
Yes. The maximum is 100% of the Band D charge, so people in Bands E to H pay the difference themselves.
Can I pay Hastings council tax twice a year?
Yes. Half-yearly payments are due by 1 April and 1 September.
Who counts as a care leaver for the Hastings discount?
Any adult under 25 who spent time in care as a child, including foster or residential care. The discount covers what is left after other discounts.
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)
- Hastings BC – How is council tax reduction calculated?
- Hastings BC – Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- Hastings BC – Empty and unoccupied properties
- Hastings BC – Care leavers Council Tax discount
- Hastings BC – Pay council tax