Melton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Melton is £2,429.67 for 2026/27, up 3.4% (£78.99) on last year. That is £38.15 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 139th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (31%), so the average bill per home is about £2,303.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
Melton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,619.78 | £161.98 | £134.98 | £1,214.84 | 3,710 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,889.74 | £188.97 | £157.48 | £1,417.31 | 7,970 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,159.71 | £215.97 | £179.98 | £1,619.78 | 4,230 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,429.67 | £242.97 | £202.47 | £1,822.25 | 4,170 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,969.60 | £296.96 | £247.47 | £2,227.20 | 2,750 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,509.52 | £350.95 | £292.46 | £2,632.14 | 1,660 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,049.45 | £404.95 | £337.45 | £3,037.09 | 1,060 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,859.34 | £485.93 | £404.95 | £3,644.51 | 90 |
- Melton
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Melton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Melton but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,429.67 Band D charge, £244.88 (10%) 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 B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £244.88 | 10.1% | £190.46 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,731.79 | 71.3% | £1,346.95 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £315.23 | 13.0% | £245.18 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £91.65 | 3.8% | £71.28 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £46.12 | 1.9% | £35.87 |
- District council £245 10.1%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,732 71.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £315 13.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £46 1.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Melton; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Melton council tax history
Band D in Melton has risen from £1,589.08 in 2016/17 to £2,429.67 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.9%, the 263rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Melton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,429.67 | +3.4% | £1,889.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,350.68 | +4.9% | £1,828.31 |
| 2024/25 | £2,241.28 | +4.7% | £1,743.22 |
| 2023/24 | £2,140.31 | +4.9% | £1,664.69 |
| 2022/23 | £2,040.05 | +3.2% | £1,586.71 |
| 2021/22 | £1,976.52 | +4.7% | £1,537.29 |
| 2020/21 | £1,888.00 | +3.8% | £1,468.44 |
| 2019/20 | £1,819.32 | +4.7% | £1,415.03 |
| 2018/19 | £1,736.85 | +5.6% | £1,350.88 |
| 2017/18 | £1,645.28 | +3.5% | £1,279.66 |
| 2016/17 | £1,589.08 | – | £1,235.95 |
Homes by council tax band in Melton
Melton has 25,640 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 46% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,889.74 a year (£188.97 a month over 10 instalments).
Melton compared with East Midlands
Melton is the 20th cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£27.74 more than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Valley | £2,407.69 | +4.8% |
| North West Leicestershire | £2,418.20 | +3.4% |
| North Northamptonshire | £2,423.96 | +5.3% |
| Melton | £2,429.67 | +3.4% |
| Derbyshire Dales | £2,444.70 | +4.8% |
| North East Derbyshire | £2,466.57 | +4.7% |
| West Northamptonshire | £2,486.66 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Melton drops from £1,889.74 to £1,417.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Melton 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).
Melton's 3.4% 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.
How Melton tightened its empty and second home charges
Melton Borough Council has steadily removed help for empty homes. Until 1 April 2019, an empty, unfurnished home could get up to 30 days free. Since then, the full charge has applied from the day it becomes empty. Between 2013 and 2019 the long-term empty premium was an extra 50%, and only after two years. At a full council meeting in February 2024, councillors cut the wait before the premium to one year and added a second-homes premium. Both changes started on 1 April 2025.
In 2026/27, a Band B home in Melton, the most common band, has a standard bill of £1,889.74. How much more an empty or second home pays:
- The empty-homes premium does not apply to the main home of an armed forces member who is away on service, or to an annexe used as part of the main house.
- The council warns that once a home becomes substantially unfurnished, premiums may be due straight away, depending on its history.
- If a home is derelict or being rebuilt, the Valuation Office Agency, not the council, decides whether to take it off the list. Being in poor repair alone is not enough.
| Status | Premium | Band B total 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Empty and unfurnished, under 1 year | None | £1,889.74 |
| Empty 1 year+ | +100% | £3,779.49 |
| Empty 5 years+ | +200% | £5,669.23 |
| Empty 10 years+ | +300% | £7,558.97 |
| Second home (furnished, no main resident) | +100% | £3,779.49 |
Paying and Council Tax Support in Melton
Bills are normally paid in 10 instalments on the 1st of each month, April to January. You can ask for 12. Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd. If you are paid mid-month, the council says to pay each instalment from the previous month's wages. You can also pay with an AllPay card at any Post Office or PayPoint, and there is no charge.
Council Tax Support is means-tested under Melton's own scheme. The 2026/27 policy sets maximum support at 100% of the daily council tax for working-age and pension-age claimants alike, and shuts out anyone with more than £16,000 in capital. You claim through a MyAccount login, and one form covers both Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit where you can still claim Housing Benefit.
Melton's scheme also adds an unusual condition. Under paragraph 29(7) of its scheme, a working-age claimant is entitled to support only if they have agreed to, and are engaging in, the council's Work Support Package (Schedule 11). That means signing an acceptance, attending one-to-one appointments with a named council officer, and completing agreed tasks such as job-search help, CV and online application support, budgeting or debt advice. Support stops if you stop engaging, unless you can show your circumstances mean you are unable to take part. Pensioners are not affected.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Melton?
£2,429.67 a year in 2026/27, or £242.97 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Melton?
Band B: 7,970 of 25,640 homes (31%). A Band B bill is £1,889.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Melton council tax gone up?
3.4% this year, from £2,350.68 to £2,429.67 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Melton?
District council £244.88; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,731.79; Police and crime commissioner £315.23; Fire and rescue authority £91.65; Parish/town council (average) £46.12 (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.
Do I have to do anything to keep Council Tax Support in Melton?
If you are of working age, yes. Melton's scheme makes support conditional on agreeing to and taking part in its Work Support Package of one-to-one appointments and agreed tasks, unless your circumstances mean you cannot. Pensioners are not affected.
When does the empty home premium start in Melton?
After one year empty and unfurnished, since 1 April 2025. Before that it started after two years.
What direct debit dates can I choose in Melton?
The 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd of the month. Standard collection is 10 instalments from April to January, or 12 if you ask.
Is there any discount for an empty home in Melton?
No. Since April 2019 the full charge applies as soon as a home becomes empty and unfurnished, unless a national exemption applies.
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)
- Melton Borough Council – Empty property charges
- Melton Borough Council – When your payments are due
- Melton Borough Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Melton Borough Council – Council Tax Support Scheme Policy 2026/27
- Melton Borough Council – Council Tax Support Scheme Policy 2026-27 (PDF)
- Melton Borough Council – Help to pay council tax and rent