Malvern Hills Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Malvern Hills is £2,450.92 for 2026/27, up 7.5% (£170.10) on last year. That is £59.40 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 159th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,503.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
Malvern Hills council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,633.95 | £163.39 | £136.16 | £1,225.46 | 4,130 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,906.27 | £190.63 | £158.86 | £1,429.70 | 7,720 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,178.60 | £217.86 | £181.55 | £1,633.95 | 9,030 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,450.92 | £245.09 | £204.24 | £1,838.19 | 6,080 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,995.57 | £299.56 | £249.63 | £2,246.68 | 5,460 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,540.22 | £354.02 | £295.02 | £2,655.16 | 4,200 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,084.87 | £408.49 | £340.41 | £3,063.65 | 2,570 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,901.84 | £490.18 | £408.49 | £3,676.38 | 130 |
- Malvern Hills
- England average
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Where your Malvern Hills council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Malvern Hills but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,450.92 Band D charge, £182.60 (7%) 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 | £182.60 | 7.5% | £162.31 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,760.80 | 71.8% | £1,565.16 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £306.50 | 12.5% | £272.44 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £107.22 | 4.4% | £95.31 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £93.80 | 3.8% | £83.38 |
- District council £183 7.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,761 71.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £307 12.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £107 4.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £94 3.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Malvern Hills; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Malvern Hills council tax history
Band D in Malvern Hills has risen from £1,593.49 in 2016/17 to £2,450.92 in 2026/27 — 54% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.1%, the 39th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Malvern Hills Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,450.92 | +7.5% | £2,178.60 |
| 2025/26 | £2,280.82 | +4.6% | £2,027.40 |
| 2024/25 | £2,180.73 | +4.8% | £1,938.43 |
| 2023/24 | £2,081.77 | +4.9% | £1,850.46 |
| 2022/23 | £1,983.90 | +3.7% | £1,763.47 |
| 2021/22 | £1,913.19 | +3.0% | £1,700.61 |
| 2020/21 | £1,857.23 | +3.7% | £1,650.87 |
| 2019/20 | £1,790.78 | +4.5% | £1,591.80 |
| 2018/19 | £1,713.86 | +4.6% | £1,523.43 |
| 2017/18 | £1,638.21 | +2.8% | £1,456.19 |
| 2016/17 | £1,593.49 | – | £1,416.44 |
Homes by council tax band in Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills has 39,320 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 30% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,178.60 a year (£217.86 a month over 10 instalments).
Malvern Hills compared with West Midlands
Malvern Hills is the 17th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£51.25 less than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wychavon | £2,373.19 | +7.8% |
| Cannock Chase | £2,375.83 | +4.1% |
| Worcester | £2,405.81 | +7.7% |
| Malvern Hills | £2,450.92 | +7.5% |
| Warwick | £2,461.55 | +4.5% |
| Redditch | £2,462.95 | +7.6% |
| Bromsgrove | £2,478.65 | +7.6% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Malvern Hills drops from £2,178.60 to £1,633.95.
- Council Tax Reduction: Malvern Hills 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).
Malvern Hills's 7.5% 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.
Short discounts on empty homes in Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills still gives short local discounts on empty homes. An empty, unfurnished home gets 100% off for one month from the date it was last occupied. After that the full charge applies. A newly built home that is empty and unfurnished gets 100% off for three months. An empty home that needs major repairs to make it habitable can get 100% off for up to 12 months.
After that, the council's page says a home empty and substantially unfurnished for more than two years pays 200%. Since 1 April 2025, councillors have also used their powers under sections 11C and 11D of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to charge second homes a 100% premium. That means double the normal bill.
- Second homes are exempt from the premium if they are being actively marketed for sale or let (up to 12 months), or for 12 months after probate. Annexes that form part of a main home and homes kept by people in armed forces accommodation are also exempt.
- A second home you need for your job, such as tied accommodation, a minister of religion's house, or a home kept by someone living in Ministry of Defence quarters, may get a 50% discount instead.
- An annexe lived in by a family member, or used by the people living in the main house, gets a 50% discount.
| Home | What you pay | Band C cost 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Empty and unfurnished, first month | Nothing (100% discount) | £0.00 |
| New build, empty, first 3 months | Nothing (100% discount) | £0.00 |
| Empty, standard charge | 100% | £2,178.60 |
| Empty more than 2 years | 200% | £4,357.19 |
| Second home (furnished, no main resident) | 200% | £4,357.19 |
Paying and Council Tax Support in Malvern Hills
You can set up a direct debit through the council's online portal. Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 10th, 15th or 25th of the month, normally in 10 payments from April to January. You can ask by email or post to pay over 12 months instead. Cash and cheque payments are due on the 1st or 15th.
Council Tax Support can cover up to 100% of the bill for low-income households. The council says it normally cannot be backdated, unlike Housing Benefit, so claim online as soon as your income drops. You then have one month to send proof of your household income. If you miss a payment and get a reminder, you must bring the account up to date within seven days. After a third missed payment, you lose the right to pay in instalments.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Malvern Hills?
£2,450.92 a year in 2026/27, or £245.09 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Malvern Hills?
Band C: 9,030 of 39,320 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,178.60 in 2026/27.
How much has Malvern Hills council tax gone up?
7.5% this year, from £2,280.82 to £2,450.92 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 54%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Malvern Hills?
District council £182.60; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,760.80; Police and crime commissioner £306.50; Fire and rescue authority £107.22; Parish/town council (average) £93.80 (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 there a discount on an empty new-build home in Malvern Hills?
Yes. A newly built home that is empty and unfurnished gets 100% off for its first three months. After that the full charge applies.
Does Malvern Hills charge a second homes premium?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays 200%. On a Band C home that is £4,357.19 in 2026/27.
Can Council Tax Support be backdated in Malvern Hills?
Normally no. The council says support usually cannot be backdated, so apply as soon as your income drops.
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)
- Malvern Hills District Council – Discounts and exemptions
- Malvern Hills District Council – How to pay your council tax
- Malvern Hills District Council – Council Tax Support
- GOV.UK – Guidance on council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes