Mole Valley Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Mole Valley is £2,519.86 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£114.11) on last year. That is £128.34 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 216th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (21%), so the average bill per home is about £3,089.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Mole Valley council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,679.91 | £167.99 | £139.99 | £1,259.93 | 1,700 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,959.89 | £195.99 | £163.32 | £1,469.92 | 2,760 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,239.88 | £223.99 | £186.66 | £1,679.91 | 4,610 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,519.86 | £251.99 | £209.99 | £1,889.90 | 8,470 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,079.83 | £307.98 | £256.65 | £2,309.87 | 7,280 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,639.80 | £363.98 | £303.32 | £2,729.85 | 6,300 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,199.77 | £419.98 | £349.98 | £3,149.83 | 7,860 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,039.72 | £503.97 | £419.98 | £3,779.79 | 1,080 |
- Mole Valley
- England average
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Where your Mole Valley council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Mole Valley but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,519.86 Band D charge, £217.59 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £217.59 | 8.6% | £217.59 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,938.42 | 76.9% | £1,938.42 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £352.57 | 14.0% | £352.57 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £11.28 | 0.4% | £11.28 |
- District council £218 8.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938 76.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £353 14.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £11 0.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Mole Valley; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Mole Valley council tax history
Band D in Mole Valley has risen from £1,657.71 in 2016/17 to £2,519.86 in 2026/27 — 52% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.0%, the 199th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Mole Valley Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,519.86 | +4.7% | £2,519.86 |
| 2025/26 | £2,405.75 | +4.7% | £2,405.75 |
| 2024/25 | £2,297.25 | +4.7% | £2,297.25 |
| 2023/24 | £2,194.37 | +3.3% | £2,194.37 |
| 2022/23 | £2,124.49 | +4.6% | £2,124.49 |
| 2021/22 | £2,031.62 | +2.9% | £2,031.62 |
| 2020/21 | £1,973.70 | +3.8% | £1,973.70 |
| 2019/20 | £1,900.62 | +3.9% | £1,900.62 |
| 2018/19 | £1,829.36 | +5.6% | £1,829.36 |
| 2017/18 | £1,732.01 | +4.5% | £1,732.01 |
| 2016/17 | £1,657.71 | – | £1,657.71 |
Homes by council tax band in Mole Valley
Mole Valley has 40,060 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 11% 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 D, which costs £2,519.86 a year (£251.99 a month over 10 instalments).
Mole Valley compared with South East
Mole Valley is the 38th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£44.41 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Spelthorne | £2,526.44 | +4.7% |
| Buckinghamshire | £2,526.58 | +5.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Mole Valley drops from £2,519.86 to £1,889.90.
- Council Tax Reduction: Mole Valley 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).
Mole Valley's 4.7% 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.
Mole Valley's premiums, and the local exceptions it adds
Mole Valley District Council charges the highest premiums the law allows. Homes empty and unfurnished for over a year pay 200%, over five years 300%, and over ten years 400%. Second homes pay 200% from the first day, with no qualifying period. A home left empty but furnished counts as a second home too. With Band D the most common band here, a second home in that band costs £5,039.72 in 2026/27 instead of £2,519.86.
Besides the national exceptions, the council uses its discretion to soften the premiums in a few common situations:
- Empty home bought by a new owner: the new owner gets up to 12 months without the long-term empty premium from the date of sale. This does not apply to the second-homes premium.
- Probate: if a deceased person's home is sold or transferred during the 12 months after probate, the new owner keeps the exception for the rest of that period.
- Overlapping tenancies: if your new tenancy starts before you move in, or your old one runs on after you leave, there is no second-home premium for up to one month.
- For sale or let: no premium for up to 12 months from first marketing. The sale exception can be used once until the home sells. The letting exception can be used again once the home has been let for six months in a row.
- Holiday lets pay business rates instead only if available for at least 140 nights over the current and previous year and actually let for 70 nights in the last 12 months. Otherwise they pay council tax plus the premium.
Paying and Council Tax Support in Mole Valley
Instalments are due on the 1st of each month. Direct debit payers can choose the 1st, 5th, 15th or 25th. You can also pay once a year (1 April) or twice a year (1 April and 1 September). To spread payments over 12 months, ask by 17 March so the first payment falls in April. Later requests are spread over fewer months, still ending in March.
Council Tax Support is means-tested on your weekly income, including Universal Credit, and household. Unusually, you ask for a paper application form by phone or email rather than applying online. Support normally starts from the Monday after the council receives the form, so return it straight away and send any missing evidence within one calendar month. People on income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Guarantee Pension Credit with no other adults at home may get the whole bill covered. Savings over £16,000 rule you out unless you get Guarantee Pension Credit.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Mole Valley?
£2,519.86 a year in 2026/27, or £251.99 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Mole Valley?
Band D: 8,470 of 40,060 homes (21%). A Band D bill is £2,519.86 in 2026/27.
How much has Mole Valley council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £2,405.75 to £2,519.86 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 52%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Mole Valley?
District council £217.59; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938.42; Police and crime commissioner £352.57; Parish/town council (average) £11.28 (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 Mole Valley charge a premium on furnished empty homes?
Yes. A furnished home that nobody lives in counts as a second home and pays 200% from day one. On a Band D home that is £5,039.72 in 2026/27.
I bought an empty house in Mole Valley. Do I pay the empty homes premium?
You can get up to 12 months without the long-term empty premium from the date of sale, under the council's own discretionary exception. The normal 100% charge still applies.
What direct debit dates does Mole Valley offer?
The 1st, 5th, 15th or 25th of the month. Annual (1 April) and half-yearly (1 April and 1 September) options are also available.
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)
- GOV.UK – Guidance on council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes
- Mole Valley District Council – Empty properties and second homes
- Mole Valley District Council – Paying your Council Tax
- Mole Valley District Council – Council Tax Support