Leicester Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Leicester is £2,528.75 for 2026/27, up 5% (£121.03) on last year. That is £137.23 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 222nd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (60%), so the average bill per home is about £1,918.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
Leicester council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,685.83 | £168.58 | £140.49 | £1,264.38 | 86,800 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,966.81 | £196.68 | £163.90 | £1,475.10 | 28,540 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,247.78 | £224.78 | £187.31 | £1,685.83 | 17,070 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,528.75 | £252.88 | £210.73 | £1,896.56 | 7,400 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,090.69 | £309.07 | £257.56 | £2,318.02 | 3,580 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,652.64 | £365.26 | £304.39 | £2,739.48 | 1,590 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,214.58 | £421.46 | £351.22 | £3,160.94 | 630 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,057.50 | £505.75 | £421.46 | £3,793.13 | 60 |
- Leicester
- England average
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Where your Leicester council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Leicester but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,528.75 Band D charge, £2,121.87 (84%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,081.46 | 82.3% | £1,387.64 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £40.41 | 1.6% | £26.94 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £315.23 | 12.5% | £210.15 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £91.65 | 3.6% | £61.10 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,081 82.3%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £40 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £315 12.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 3.6%
Leicester council tax history
Band D in Leicester has risen from £1,599.21 in 2016/17 to £2,528.75 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.7%, the 116th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Leicester Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,528.75 | +5.0% | £1,685.83 |
| 2025/26 | £2,407.72 | +5.0% | £1,605.15 |
| 2024/25 | £2,292.51 | +4.9% | £1,528.34 |
| 2023/24 | £2,185.52 | +5.2% | £1,457.01 |
| 2022/23 | £2,078.26 | +3.3% | £1,385.51 |
| 2021/22 | £2,012.44 | +5.1% | £1,341.63 |
| 2020/21 | £1,915.42 | +4.0% | £1,276.95 |
| 2019/20 | £1,842.04 | +4.0% | £1,228.03 |
| 2018/19 | £1,770.92 | +5.9% | £1,180.61 |
| 2017/18 | £1,671.76 | +4.5% | £1,114.51 |
| 2016/17 | £1,599.21 | – | £1,066.14 |
Homes by council tax band in Leicester
Leicester has 145,670 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 79% 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 £1,685.83 a year (£168.58 a month over 10 instalments).
Leicester compared with East Midlands
Leicester is the 25th cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£71.34 less than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| North East Derbyshire | £2,466.57 | +4.7% |
| West Northamptonshire | £2,486.66 | +5.3% |
| Blaby | £2,490.22 | +3.5% |
| Leicester | £2,528.75 | +5% |
| Bolsover | £2,559.41 | +4.6% |
| Mansfield | £2,600.38 | +4.1% |
| Ashfield | £2,608.76 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Leicester drops from £1,685.83 to £1,264.38.
- Council Tax Reduction: Leicester 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).
Leicester'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.
Leicester's Council Tax Support caps by band
Since April 2025 Leicester has used an income-banded scheme with two tiers. Vulnerable households can get up to 100%, but support is based on no more than the Band C charge (£2,247.78 in 2026/27). Vulnerable means someone gets middle- or higher-rate DLA care, enhanced daily living PIP, Carer's Allowance or the UC carer element, income-related ESA or the support component of contribution-based ESA, or UC with limited capability for work. Other households can get up to 80%, capped at the Band B charge (£1,966.81). So the most a non-vulnerable household can receive is £1,573.44 a year, however large its home.
Each other adult living with you reduces support by £6.10 a week, unless they are a student, disabled or unable to work. Leicester no longer offers Second Adult Rebate. Working-age claimants must have savings under £6,000, and up to £300 of childcare costs may be ignored.
Empty homes, payments and levies
- There is no longer a first-month discount on empty, unfurnished homes. Premiums are 100% extra after one year, 200% after five and 300% after ten. Second homes pay an extra 100%.
- Direct debit dates: the 1st, 10th, 20th or 28th. If you pay any other way, make sure the money arrives at least five days before the due date.
- The city's bill includes the Environment Agency's Trent flood levy. The city's share is £102,961 of a regional total that rose 3% to £2,430,534.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Leicester?
£2,528.75 a year in 2026/27, or £252.88 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Leicester?
Band A: 86,800 of 145,670 homes (60%). A Band A bill is £1,685.83 in 2026/27.
How much has Leicester council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,407.72 to £2,528.75 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Leicester?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,081.46; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £40.41; Police and crime commissioner £315.23; Fire and rescue authority £91.65 (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 Support capped in Leicester?
Yes. Vulnerable households are assessed on the Band C charge and others on the Band B charge, at 100% and 80% respectively.
Does Leicester still have Second Adult Rebate?
No. Leicester no longer offers it.
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)
- Leicester City Council – Council Tax support
- Leicester City Council – Empty properties and second homes
- Leicester City Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Leicester City Council – Further Council Tax information and notes