Maidstone Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Maidstone is £2,502.59 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£98.81) on last year. That is £111.07 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 203rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (27%), so the average bill per home is about £2,596.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Maidstone council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,668.39 | £166.84 | £139.03 | £1,251.30 | 4,560 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,946.46 | £194.65 | £162.20 | £1,459.84 | 9,610 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,224.52 | £222.45 | £185.38 | £1,668.39 | 21,400 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,502.59 | £250.26 | £208.55 | £1,876.94 | 20,720 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,058.72 | £305.87 | £254.89 | £2,294.04 | 11,060 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,614.85 | £361.49 | £301.24 | £2,711.14 | 6,680 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,170.98 | £417.10 | £347.58 | £3,128.24 | 4,760 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,005.18 | £500.52 | £417.10 | £3,753.89 | 400 |
- Maidstone
- England average
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Where your Maidstone council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Maidstone but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,502.59 Band D charge, £310.68 (12%) 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 | £310.68 | 12.4% | £276.16 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 70.3% | £1,563.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 11.4% | £253.47 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.0% | £88.72 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £48.35 | 1.9% | £42.98 |
- District council £311 12.4%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 70.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £48 1.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Maidstone; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Maidstone council tax history
Band D in Maidstone has risen from £1,623.97 in 2016/17 to £2,502.59 in 2026/27 — 54% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.7%, the 222nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Maidstone Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,502.59 | +4.1% | £2,224.52 |
| 2025/26 | £2,403.78 | +4.8% | £2,136.69 |
| 2024/25 | £2,292.93 | +4.7% | £2,038.16 |
| 2023/24 | £2,189.62 | +5.0% | £1,946.33 |
| 2022/23 | £2,085.09 | +3.0% | £1,853.41 |
| 2021/22 | £2,023.88 | +4.7% | £1,799.00 |
| 2020/21 | £1,932.91 | +3.8% | £1,718.14 |
| 2019/20 | £1,862.00 | +5.5% | £1,655.11 |
| 2018/19 | £1,764.97 | +4.9% | £1,568.86 |
| 2017/18 | £1,682.96 | +3.6% | £1,495.96 |
| 2016/17 | £1,623.97 | – | £1,443.53 |
Homes by council tax band in Maidstone
Maidstone has 79,190 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 18% 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 £2,224.52 a year (£222.45 a month over 10 instalments).
Maidstone compared with South East
Maidstone is the 36th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£27.14 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Thanet | £2,490.90 | +4.2% |
| Runnymede | £2,492.99 | +4.7% |
| Wokingham | £2,497.70 | +5.1% |
| Maidstone | £2,502.59 | +4.1% |
| West Berkshire | £2,505.37 | +5.1% |
| Mole Valley | £2,519.86 | +4.7% |
| Sevenoaks | £2,522.36 | +4.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Maidstone drops from £2,224.52 to £1,668.39.
- Council Tax Reduction: Maidstone 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).
Maidstone's 4.1% 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.
Empty homes, second homes and Airbnb flats in Maidstone
Maidstone Borough Council gives no discount or exemption on long-term empty homes, furnished or unfurnished, unless a national exemption applies, such as a home left by someone now in a care home. From 1 April 2025 the long-term empty premium has started after 12 months instead of two years. From the same date, homes that are furnished but nobody's main residence pay a 100% premium, a total of 200%. The council says this includes furnished homes between lets. A self-catering let is moved to business rates only if, over the last 12 months, it was available to let commercially for at least 140 nights and actually let for at least 70.
With Band C the most common band in the borough, here is what the premiums mean in 2026/27:
- A job-related second home, for example one a caretaker or pub landlord must live in, can get 50% off instead. A second home that is merely near your work does not count, and both homes must be in England, Wales or Scotland.
- The major-repairs exception (Class M) lasts up to 12 months and can run for up to six months after the works finish. Maidstone lists rewiring, new kitchens or bathrooms, new boilers, damp-proofing, drainage and replacement windows as works that do not qualify.
- Figures use the borough's average Band D including parish precepts. The exact bill depends on your parish.
| Status | Charge | Band C bill 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied or empty under 1 year | 100% | £2,224.52 |
| Second home / furnished, no main resident | 200% | £4,449.05 |
| Empty over 1 year | 200% | £4,449.05 |
| Empty over 5 years | 300% | £6,673.57 |
| Empty over 10 years | 400% | £8,898.10 |
Council Tax Support and paying in Maidstone
Maidstone says you will not normally qualify for Council Tax Support with savings or investments over £10,000. You may have more and still qualify if you and your partner are both over State Pension Credit age. If you claim Universal Credit, JSA, Income Support or ESA, you must make a separate claim for Council Tax Support with the council. Send your evidence within a month, or the council may not be able to pay. To challenge a decision, ask the council to reconsider in writing within a month; after that you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
Bills are normally split into 10 monthly payments. You can ask to pay over 12 months, quarterly, half-yearly, or all at once. Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 7th or 28th. If you pay by bank transfer or standing order instead, the money must reach the council by the 10th of each month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Maidstone?
£2,502.59 a year in 2026/27, or £250.26 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Maidstone?
Band C: 21,400 of 79,190 homes (27%). A Band C bill is £2,224.52 in 2026/27.
How much has Maidstone council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,403.78 to £2,502.59 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 54%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Maidstone?
District council £310.68; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,758.60; Police and crime commissioner £285.15; Fire and rescue authority £99.81; Parish/town council (average) £48.35 (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.
Does Maidstone give a discount on empty homes?
No. Empty homes pay the full charge from the start, and a 100% premium is added after 12 months (since April 2025), unless an exemption applies.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Support in Maidstone?
£10,000. Above that you will not normally qualify, unless you and your partner are both over State Pension Credit age.
Can I pay Maidstone council tax quarterly?
Yes. As well as 10 or 12 monthly payments, Maidstone lets you pay quarterly, half-yearly or in one payment. Direct debit dates are the 1st, 7th or 28th.
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)
- Maidstone Borough Council – Long-term empty and second homes
- Maidstone Borough Council – Unoccupied properties
- Maidstone Borough Council – Council Tax Support
- Maidstone Borough Council – Pay your Council Tax bill