Midlothian Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Midlothian is £1,816.16 for 2026/27, up 9% (£149.96) on last year. That is £162.72 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 32nd lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (28%), so the average bill per home is about £1,974.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Midlothian council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,210.77 | £121.08 | £100.90 | £908.08 | 919 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,412.57 | £141.26 | £117.71 | £1,059.43 | 12,427 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,614.36 | £161.44 | £134.53 | £1,210.77 | 11,087 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,816.16 | £181.62 | £151.35 | £1,362.12 | 6,016 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,386.23 | £238.62 | £198.85 | £1,789.67 | 5,650 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,951.26 | £295.13 | £245.94 | £2,213.45 | 4,819 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,556.65 | £355.66 | £296.39 | £2,667.48 | 3,226 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,449.59 | £444.96 | £370.80 | £3,337.19 | 185 |
- Midlothian
- Scotland average
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Midlothian council tax history
Band D in Midlothian has risen from £1,210.00 in 2016/17 to £1,816.16 in 2026/27 — 50% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.9%, the 14th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Midlothian Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,816.16 | +9.0% | £1,412.57 |
| 2025/26 | £1,666.20 | +10.0% | £1,295.93 |
| 2024/25 | £1,514.73 | +0.0% | £1,178.12 |
| 2023/24 | £1,514.73 | +5.0% | £1,178.12 |
| 2022/23 | £1,442.60 | +2.4% | £1,122.02 |
| 2021/22 | £1,409.00 | +0.0% | £1,095.89 |
| 2020/21 | £1,409.00 | +4.8% | £1,095.89 |
| 2019/20 | £1,344.00 | +4.8% | £1,045.33 |
| 2018/19 | £1,283.00 | +3.0% | £997.89 |
| 2017/18 | £1,246.00 | +3.0% | £969.11 |
| 2016/17 | £1,210.00 | – | £941.11 |
Homes by council tax band in Midlothian
Midlothian has 44,329 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 30% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,412.57 a year (£141.26 a month over 10 instalments).
Midlothian compared with Scotland
Midlothian is the 32nd cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£154.24 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Dunbartonshire | £1,751.67 | +9.5% |
| Stirling | £1,752.87 | +8.8% |
| Argyll & Bute | £1,783.33 | +9.7% |
| Midlothian | £1,816.16 | +9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Midlothian drops from £1,412.57 to £1,059.43.
- Council Tax Reduction: Midlothian runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Scottish rules.
- 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.
Midlothian's 9% rise compares with a Scotland average of about 7.1%. Scottish councils set their own rates, and water and sewerage charges are added on top.
Up to six times the bill on long-empty homes
From 1 April 2026, Midlothian charges a premium that rises steeply the longer a home stays empty. The report agreed at the Council meeting on 24 February 2026 said the flat 100% premium in place since 2024 had made minimal impact: about 350 long-term empty homes were billed the levy in each of the last three years, raising about £250,000 a year, and about 35 second homes paid it in 2025/26, raising £47,000. The time a home was already empty or classed as a second home before April 2026 counts, so some owners went straight into the higher tiers.
- Band B is shown because it is Midlothian's most common band (12,427 homes). A Band D home empty for three years or more would pay £10,896.96 a year in council tax.
- Second homes follow the same steps under the February 2026 report: 200% for the first two years, 400% from month 25 and 600% from month 37. The council page says similar premiums will normally apply to second homes.
- A long-term empty home that is actively marketed for sale or let is charged the levy only once it has been empty for two years or more.
- Scottish Water charges are separate and not multiplied.
| How long empty | Premium | Total charge | Band B council tax 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | None (discount may apply) | 100% or less | £1,412.57 |
| 1 to 2 years | 100% | 200% | £2,825.14 |
| 2 to 3 years | 300% | 400% | £5,650.28 |
| 3 years or more | 500% | 600% | £8,475.41 |
Scotland's highest Band D after a 9% rise
At the full Council meeting on 24 February 2026, councillors agreed a 9% rise across all bands, taking Band D to £1,816.16, the highest of any Scottish council in 2026/27. It follows a 10.0% rise in 2025/26.
The council's budget statement shows net spending of £340.7 million on council services, excluding council housing, which is paid for by rents. Children, young people and partnerships take £183.4 million (54%, or £978 of every Band D bill), health and social care £75.9 million (£404), and "place" services such as roads and waste £70.6 million (£376). Government grants provide £214.9 million and business rates £41.1 million. The council is using £4.1 million of reserves, leaving £80.6 million to raise from council tax.
Paying and banding
You can set up a direct debit online with your nine-digit account number, or by phone on 0131 271 3201. Band challenges go to the Lothian Valuation Joint Board rather than the council.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Midlothian?
£1,816.16 a year in 2026/27, or £181.62 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Midlothian?
Band B: 12,427 of 44,329 homes (28%). A Band B bill is £1,412.57 in 2026/27.
How much has Midlothian council tax gone up?
9% this year, from £1,666.20 to £1,816.16 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 50%.
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your address on the Scottish Assessors website (saa.gov.uk). You can appeal within six months of moving in.
How much council tax do long-term empty homes pay in Midlothian?
From 1 April 2026: 200% after one year empty, 400% after two years and 600% after three years. Second homes pay 200% from the start, then 400% and 600% on the same timetable.
Why is Midlothian council tax the highest in Scotland?
Councillors agreed a 9% rise on 24 February 2026, taking Band D to £1,816.16. More than half of council spending goes on children, young people and partnerships.
Does time empty before April 2026 count towards Midlothian's premium?
Yes. Any continuous period a property was empty or classed as a second home before 1 April 2026 is taken into account.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Scottish Government: Council Tax by band 2026-27 (XLSX)
- Scottish Government: Council Tax by band 2025-26 (XLSX), used for Scotland % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- legislation.gov.uk: Council Tax (Substitution of Proportion) (Scotland) Order 2016
- Scottish Government: Number of chargeable dwellings, September 2025 (CTAXBASE 2025)
- Midlothian Council – Council Tax for empty properties and second homes
- Midlothian Council – Variation of Council Tax for unoccupied dwellings, Council report 24 February 2026 (PDF)
- Midlothian Council – How the council budget is allocated 2026/27
- Midlothian Council – Council Tax charges
- Midlothian Council – Pay Council Tax