Kensington and Chelsea Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Kensington and Chelsea is £1,666.65 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£75.06) on last year. That is £724.87 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 5th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band G (22%), so the average bill per home is about £2,317.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
Kensington and Chelsea council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,111.10 | £111.11 | £92.59 | £833.32 | 1,460 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,296.28 | £129.63 | £108.02 | £972.21 | 3,310 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,481.47 | £148.15 | £123.46 | £1,111.10 | 9,490 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £1,666.65 | £166.67 | £138.89 | £1,249.99 | 14,200 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,037.02 | £203.70 | £169.75 | £1,527.76 | 13,470 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £2,407.38 | £240.74 | £200.62 | £1,805.54 | 12,240 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £2,777.75 | £277.78 | £231.48 | £2,083.31 | 20,010 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £3,333.30 | £333.33 | £277.78 | £2,499.98 | 15,520 |
- Kensington and Chelsea
- England average
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Where your Kensington and Chelsea council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Kensington and Chelsea but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £1,666.65 Band D charge, £1,156.14 (69%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,134.12 | 68.0% | £1,890.20 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £22.02 | 1.3% | £36.70 |
| Greater London Authority | £510.51 | 30.6% | £850.85 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,134 68.0%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £22 1.3%
- Greater London Authority £511 30.6%
Kensington and Chelsea council tax history
Band D in Kensington and Chelsea has risen from £1,058.58 in 2016/17 to £1,666.65 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.2%, the 147th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Kensington and Chelsea Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,666.65 | +4.7% | £2,777.75 |
| 2025/26 | £1,591.59 | +4.0% | £2,652.65 |
| 2024/25 | £1,529.85 | +6.1% | £2,549.75 |
| 2023/24 | £1,442.29 | +4.3% | £2,403.82 |
| 2022/23 | £1,382.20 | +3.8% | £2,303.67 |
| 2021/22 | £1,330.98 | +6.1% | £2,218.30 |
| 2020/21 | £1,254.01 | +3.8% | £2,090.02 |
| 2019/20 | £1,207.85 | +6.0% | £2,013.08 |
| 2018/19 | £1,139.41 | +5.7% | £1,899.02 |
| 2017/18 | £1,077.94 | +1.8% | £1,796.57 |
| 2016/17 | £1,058.58 | – | £1,764.30 |
Homes by council tax band in Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea has 89,700 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 5% 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 G, which costs £2,777.75 a year (£277.78 a month over 10 instalments).
Kensington and Chelsea compared with London
Kensington and Chelsea is the 5th cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£423.43 more than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster | £1,049.55 | +3% |
| City of London | £1,329.56 | +4.4% |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | £1,519.51 | +4.7% |
| Kensington and Chelsea | £1,666.65 | +4.7% |
| Tower Hamlets | £1,837.78 | +4.7% |
| Newham | £1,944.23 | +4.8% |
| Southwark | £1,967.26 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band G bill in Kensington and Chelsea drops from £2,777.75 to £2,083.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Kensington and Chelsea 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).
Kensington and Chelsea's 4.7% 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.
Late bills in 2026/27 after the cyber-attack
Kensington and Chelsea's 2026/27 bills were sent late. A cyber-attack on the council in late November 2025 forced its revenues and benefits systems offline. The council said bills would go out in May, with instalments starting in June instead of April. Monthly payments run from June to March. Quarterly payments are due in June, September, December and March, half-yearly in June and November, and a single payment in June. A Band D bill of £1,666.65 spread over June to March is £166.67 a month.
The first bills did not include changes reported from November 2025 onwards, so revised bills follow. New residents should put money aside until their first bill arrives.
Support cut to 90% and a new second homes premium
On 28 January 2026 the council cut the maximum Council Tax Reduction for working-age residents from 100% to 90%, from 1 April 2026. Universal Credit claimants are banded by income, with awards of 90%, 74.7%, 59.4%, 44.1%, 28.8% or 13.5%. At the top rate, a Band C household pays £148.15 a year. Pensioners can still get up to 100%. If your own income is too high, you can claim Alternative Maximum Council Tax Support if you share with low-income adults.
Kensington and Chelsea's second homes premium also started on 1 April 2026, a year later than most boroughs. Furnished homes with no resident now pay £3,333.30 at Band D. Long-term empty homes pay 200% after one year, 300% after five and 400% after ten.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Kensington and Chelsea?
£1,666.65 a year in 2026/27, or £166.67 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Kensington and Chelsea?
Band G: 20,010 of 89,700 homes (22%). A Band G bill is £2,777.75 in 2026/27.
How much has Kensington and Chelsea council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £1,591.59 to £1,666.65 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Kensington and Chelsea?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,134.12; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £22.02; Greater London Authority £510.51 (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.
Why did my Kensington and Chelsea council tax bill arrive late in 2026?
A cyber-attack in November 2025 took the council’s revenues systems offline. The council said annual bills would be sent in May 2026, with instalments starting in June.
What is the maximum Council Tax Reduction in Kensington and Chelsea?
90% for working-age residents from 1 April 2026, down from 100%. Pensioners can still get up to 100%.
When did Kensington and Chelsea start charging a second homes premium?
1 April 2026. A furnished home with no resident pays double the normal charge.
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)
- RBKC – Council Tax charges for 2026 to 2027
- RBKC – Council Tax Reduction Regulations 2026 (PDF)
- RBKC – Council Tax Reduction scheme
- RBKC – Council tax empty properties