Lewes Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Lewes is £2,756.17 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£128.78) on last year. That is £364.65 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 295th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (29%), so the average bill per home is about £2,772.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Lewes council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,837.45 | £183.74 | £153.12 | £1,378.09 | 4,530 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,143.69 | £214.37 | £178.64 | £1,607.77 | 6,420 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,449.93 | £244.99 | £204.16 | £1,837.45 | 13,880 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,756.17 | £275.62 | £229.68 | £2,067.13 | 10,430 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,368.65 | £336.87 | £280.72 | £2,526.49 | 6,330 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,981.13 | £398.11 | £331.76 | £2,985.85 | 3,310 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,593.62 | £459.36 | £382.80 | £3,445.21 | 2,440 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,512.34 | £551.23 | £459.36 | £4,134.26 | 250 |
- Lewes
- England average
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Where your Lewes council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Lewes but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,756.17 Band D charge, £242.02 (9%) 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 | £242.02 | 8.8% | £215.13 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,960.29 | 71.1% | £1,742.48 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 10.2% | £250.59 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £117.49 | 4.3% | £104.44 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £154.46 | 5.6% | £137.30 |
- District council £242 8.8%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960 71.1%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 10.2%
- Fire and rescue authority £117 4.3%
- Parish/town council (average) £154 5.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Lewes; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Lewes council tax history
Band D in Lewes has risen from £1,763.93 in 2016/17 to £2,756.17 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.9%, the 104th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Lewes Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,756.17 | +4.9% | £2,449.93 |
| 2025/26 | £2,627.39 | +4.9% | £2,335.46 |
| 2024/25 | £2,503.48 | +4.8% | £2,225.32 |
| 2023/24 | £2,388.17 | +4.7% | £2,122.82 |
| 2022/23 | £2,281.43 | +4.2% | £2,027.94 |
| 2021/22 | £2,189.22 | +3.7% | £1,945.97 |
| 2020/21 | £2,111.04 | +4.3% | £1,876.48 |
| 2019/20 | £2,024.32 | +4.1% | £1,799.40 |
| 2018/19 | £1,944.25 | +5.6% | £1,728.22 |
| 2017/18 | £1,841.90 | +4.4% | £1,637.24 |
| 2016/17 | £1,763.93 | – | £1,567.94 |
Homes by council tax band in Lewes
Lewes has 47,590 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 23% 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 £2,449.93 a year (£244.99 a month over 10 instalments).
Lewes compared with South East
Lewes is the 64th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£280.72 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | £2,678.40 | +4.7% |
| Rother | £2,700.95 | +5.5% |
| Wealden | £2,728.43 | +4.6% |
| Lewes | £2,756.17 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Lewes drops from £2,449.93 to £1,837.45.
- Council Tax Reduction: Lewes 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).
Lewes'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.
The 2026/27 billing error in Lewes town
Households in the Lewes Town Council area received wrong 2026/27 bills. The council announced on 14 March 2026 that the error added about £8 a month at Band D through the Lewes Town Council precept. It said corrected bills would be reissued so that nobody pays more than they owe, and asked residents not to cancel their direct debits. Lewes District's average Band D bill of £2,756.17 is £364.65 above the England average, partly because its average parish precept is £154.46.
Discounts and premiums under the Lewes–Eastbourne service
Lewes District shares its council tax team and website with Eastbourne Borough, but the two councils set different rules. Lewes stopped giving a discount on empty, unfurnished homes in April 2020, four years before Eastbourne. Since 1 April 2024 neither council gives a discount for homes undergoing structural work or major renovation. Since 1 April 2025 both have charged a 100% premium on furnished homes that are nobody's main residence, so a Band D second home in Lewes District pays £5,512.34. There is no second or holiday home discount. A job-related home, such as a publican's flat or a school caretaker's house, can get 50% off.
- Direct debit dates: the 1st, 7th, 15th or 25th, set up through the Citizen Access portal.
- The empty homes premium is tied to the property, so a change of owner or tenant does not end it while the home stays empty and unfurnished.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Lewes?
£2,756.17 a year in 2026/27, or £275.62 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Lewes?
Band C: 13,880 of 47,590 homes (29%). A Band C bill is £2,449.93 in 2026/27.
How much has Lewes council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,627.39 to £2,756.17 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Lewes?
District council £242.02; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960.29; Police and crime commissioner £281.91; Fire and rescue authority £117.49; Parish/town council (average) £154.46 (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.
Was there an error on Lewes council tax bills in 2026?
Yes. Bills for the Lewes Town Council area overstated the town precept by about £8 a month at Band D. The council is reissuing corrected bills.
Is there an empty home discount in Lewes District?
No. Lewes District has not given a discount on empty, unfurnished homes since 1 April 2020.
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)
- Lewes and Eastbourne Councils – 2026/2027 Council Tax bill update for residents in Lewes town
- Lewes and Eastbourne Councils – Council Tax discounts and premiums
- Lewes and Eastbourne Councils – Pay your Council Tax