New Forest Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in New Forest is £2,419.76 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£116.39) on last year. That is £28.24 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 134th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,501.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
New Forest council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,613.17 | £161.32 | £134.43 | £1,209.88 | 7,370 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,882.04 | £188.20 | £156.84 | £1,411.53 | 12,260 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,150.90 | £215.09 | £179.24 | £1,613.17 | 18,300 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,419.76 | £241.98 | £201.65 | £1,814.82 | 19,480 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,957.48 | £295.75 | £246.46 | £2,218.11 | 13,740 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,495.21 | £349.52 | £291.27 | £2,621.41 | 7,220 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,032.93 | £403.29 | £336.08 | £3,024.70 | 4,700 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,839.52 | £483.95 | £403.29 | £3,629.64 | 620 |
- New Forest
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your New Forest council tax goes
Your bill is collected by New Forest but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,419.76 Band D charge, £211.92 (9%) 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 D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £211.92 | 8.8% | £211.92 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,690.11 | 69.8% | £1,690.11 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £290.46 | 12.0% | £290.46 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.84 | 3.8% | £92.84 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £134.43 | 5.6% | £134.43 |
- District council £212 8.8%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690 69.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £290 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £134 5.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across New Forest; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
New Forest council tax history
Band D in New Forest has risen from £1,534.44 in 2016/17 to £2,419.76 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.8%, the 111th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- New Forest Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,419.76 | +5.1% | £2,419.76 |
| 2025/26 | £2,303.37 | +5.0% | £2,303.37 |
| 2024/25 | £2,193.24 | +4.9% | £2,193.24 |
| 2023/24 | £2,090.56 | +5.2% | £2,090.56 |
| 2022/23 | £1,987.99 | +3.3% | £1,987.99 |
| 2021/22 | £1,923.90 | +4.8% | £1,923.90 |
| 2020/21 | £1,836.35 | +4.0% | £1,836.35 |
| 2019/20 | £1,765.32 | +4.2% | £1,765.32 |
| 2018/19 | £1,693.78 | +5.6% | £1,693.78 |
| 2017/18 | £1,603.72 | +4.5% | £1,603.72 |
| 2016/17 | £1,534.44 | – | £1,534.44 |
Homes by council tax band in New Forest
New Forest has 83,690 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 23% 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 £2,419.76 a year (£241.98 a month over 10 instalments).
New Forest compared with South East
New Forest is the 24th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£55.69 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Slough | £2,414.44 | +5% |
| Crawley | £2,418.46 | +4.9% |
| Canterbury | £2,419.33 | +4.2% |
| New Forest | £2,419.76 | +5.1% |
| Horsham | £2,441.01 | +5.1% |
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 | +4.2% |
| Worthing | £2,456.13 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in New Forest drops from £2,419.76 to £1,814.82.
- Council Tax Reduction: New Forest 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).
New Forest's 5.1% 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.
New Forest's 2026/27 council tax decision
On 26 February 2026, New Forest District Council's council tax report recommended raising the district's own Band D charge by £6.15 (2.99%) to £211.92. That stays just under the government's 2026/27 referendum trigger for district councils, which applies when a rise is both 3% or more and more than £5 at Band D. The district's share is small: about 8.8% of the average Band D bill. Hampshire County Council takes £1,690.11 (up 4.99%), and the police and fire authorities also raised their precepts. Town and parish precepts rose 8% on average, to £134.43.
Because each of the district's 37 town and parish areas sets its own precept, there are 296 separate council tax figures, one for each band in each parish. In 2026/27, Band D ranges from £2,285.33 to £2,477.18 depending on where you live. The average is £2,419.76.
Second homes and empty homes in the New Forest
New Forest has charged a 100% premium on second homes, and cut the wait before the empty-homes premium from two years to one, since 1 April 2025. A report to the council's Cabinet on 3 December 2025 said the second-homes premium was being charged on 1,120 properties, with another 313 getting an exception. The council has not added any local exceptions beyond the national ones. The report proposed keeping both premiums unchanged for 2026/27.
With Band D the most common band here, a second home at the district average costs £4,839.52 a year instead of £2,419.76. Exceptions that never run out include annexes used as part of a main home, homes where planning rules restrict year-round occupation, and homes kept by people living in armed forces accommodation. Exceptions for homes marketed for sale or let last up to 12 months.
Council Tax Reduction and paying in the New Forest
About 7,790 households get Council Tax Reduction: 4,171 of working age and 3,619 of pension age. It costs about £10 million a year in council tax not collected, shared between the district, county, police, fire and parish councils. A councillor task-and-finish group redesigned the working-age scheme from April 2025, and it continues unchanged in 2026/27. The council notes that local government reorganisation in Hampshire may lead to the scheme being aligned with neighbouring councils before the new council takes over.
Bills are payable in 10 monthly instalments from April, or 12 on request. If you face exceptional hardship, you can apply for a discretionary reduction under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. If ministers activate the government's flood recovery package after severe weather, the council's policy allows 100% off for at least three months on main homes made unliveable, refunded by government. Second and empty homes cannot get it.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in New Forest?
£2,419.76 a year in 2026/27, or £241.98 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in New Forest?
Band D: 19,480 of 83,690 homes (23%). A Band D bill is £2,419.76 in 2026/27.
How much has New Forest council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,303.37 to £2,419.76 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in New Forest?
District council £211.92; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690.11; Police and crime commissioner £290.46; Fire and rescue authority £92.84; Parish/town council (average) £134.43 (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.
How much did New Forest District Council raise council tax for 2026/27?
Its own share rose £6.15 (2.99%) to £211.92 at Band D. Including the county, police, fire and average parish precepts, the average Band D bill is £2,419.76.
How many second homes pay the premium in the New Forest?
A Cabinet report in December 2025 said 1,120 properties were being charged the 100% second-homes premium, and 313 more had an exception.
Why is council tax different between New Forest villages?
Each of the 37 town and parish councils sets its own precept. Band D bills in 2026/27 range from £2,285.33 to £2,477.18 depending on the parish.
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)
- New Forest District Council – The 2026/27 Council Tax (Council, 26 February 2026)
- New Forest District Council – Council Tax Support Scheme and Premiums (Cabinet, 3 December 2025)
- GOV.UK – Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2026 to 2027
- New Forest District Council – Council meeting 26 February 2026