Lewisham Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Lewisham is £2,237.33 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£102.20) on last year. That is £154.19 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 30th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (36%), so the average bill per home is about £2,030.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
Lewisham council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,491.55 | £149.16 | £124.30 | £1,118.67 | 9,210 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,740.15 | £174.01 | £145.01 | £1,305.11 | 36,770 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,988.74 | £198.87 | £165.73 | £1,491.55 | 48,380 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,237.33 | £223.73 | £186.44 | £1,678.00 | 27,940 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,734.51 | £273.45 | £227.88 | £2,050.89 | 8,100 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,231.70 | £323.17 | £269.31 | £2,423.77 | 2,820 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,728.88 | £372.89 | £310.74 | £2,796.66 | 1,360 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,474.66 | £447.47 | £372.89 | £3,356.00 | 190 |
- Lewisham
- England average
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Where your Lewisham council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Lewisham but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,237.33 Band D charge, £1,726.82 (77%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,693.92 | 75.7% | £1,505.71 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £32.90 | 1.5% | £29.24 |
| Greater London Authority | £510.51 | 22.8% | £453.79 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,694 75.7%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £33 1.5%
- Greater London Authority £511 22.8%
Lewisham council tax history
Band D in Lewisham has risen from £1,378.66 in 2016/17 to £2,237.33 in 2026/27 — 62% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.3%, the 29th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Lewisham Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,237.33 | +4.8% | £1,988.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,135.13 | +4.8% | £1,897.89 |
| 2024/25 | £2,037.98 | +5.8% | £1,811.54 |
| 2023/24 | £1,926.27 | +6.0% | £1,712.24 |
| 2022/23 | £1,816.81 | +4.2% | £1,614.94 |
| 2021/22 | £1,743.62 | +5.9% | £1,549.88 |
| 2020/21 | £1,646.44 | +3.9% | £1,463.50 |
| 2019/20 | £1,584.45 | +5.8% | £1,408.40 |
| 2018/19 | £1,498.10 | +4.2% | £1,331.64 |
| 2017/18 | £1,437.70 | +4.3% | £1,277.96 |
| 2016/17 | £1,378.66 | – | £1,225.48 |
Homes by council tax band in Lewisham
Lewisham has 134,770 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 34% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £1,988.74 a year (£198.87 a month over 10 instalments).
Lewisham compared with London
Lewisham is the 22nd cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£147.25 less than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Barking and Dagenham | £2,198.51 | +4.8% |
| Camden | £2,207.55 | +4.8% |
| Brent | £2,235.27 | +4.8% |
| Lewisham | £2,237.33 | +4.8% |
| Enfield | £2,267.67 | +4.8% |
| Redbridge | £2,294.58 | +4.8% |
| Haringey | £2,313.78 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Lewisham drops from £1,988.74 to £1,491.55.
- Council Tax Reduction: Lewisham 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).
Lewisham'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.
Paying Lewisham council tax: more options than most
Lewisham offers more ways to schedule payments than most London boroughs. If you do not pay by direct debit, instalments fall due on the 1st or 15th, or on the 8th or 22nd if you ask. Direct debit can be monthly over 10 or 12 instalments on the 1st, 18th or 28th, quarterly on 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January, or half-yearly on 1 April and 1 October. Quarterly payments on a Band D bill of £2,237.33 are £559.33 each. If you pay at a Post Office or PayPoint, pay at least seven days before the due date.
Support, empty homes and care leavers
- Council Tax Reduction covers up to 75% for working-age claimants and up to 100% for pensioners. You cannot claim with savings over £16,000. On a Band C bill of £1,988.74, the 75% maximum leaves £497.18 to pay.
- Empty, unfurnished homes and homes under structural repair get no reduction. A four-week, 100% discount is available only for homes that became empty before 1 April 2023.
- Lewisham gives no discount on second homes, and has charged a 100% premium on them since 1 April 2025.
- Care leavers from Lewisham or any other UK council pay nothing until 25 if they live alone (single person discount plus 75%) or only with other care leavers. If two or more adults in the home are not care leavers, the discount does not apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Lewisham?
£2,237.33 a year in 2026/27, or £223.73 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Lewisham?
Band C: 48,380 of 134,770 homes (36%). A Band C bill is £1,988.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Lewisham council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,135.13 to £2,237.33 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 62%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Lewisham?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,693.92; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £32.90; 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.
Can I pay Lewisham council tax quarterly?
Yes, by direct debit on 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January.
What is the maximum Council Tax Reduction in Lewisham?
75% for working-age claimants and 100% for pensioners on a low income.
Do care leavers from outside Lewisham get the discount?
Yes. Care leavers from any UK local authority can get it until they are 25.
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)
- Lewisham – Pay your council tax
- Lewisham – Council tax reduction scheme
- Lewisham – Empty properties
- Lewisham – Care leavers’ discount