North Hertfordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in North Hertfordshire is £2,448.52 for 2026/27, up 5% (£115.91) on last year. That is £57.00 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 158th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (34%), so the average bill per home is about £2,497.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
North Hertfordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,632.35 | £163.23 | £136.03 | £1,224.26 | 3,460 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,904.40 | £190.44 | £158.70 | £1,428.30 | 9,510 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,176.46 | £217.65 | £181.37 | £1,632.35 | 20,420 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,448.52 | £244.85 | £204.04 | £1,836.39 | 10,520 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,992.64 | £299.26 | £249.39 | £2,244.48 | 7,570 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,536.75 | £353.68 | £294.73 | £2,652.56 | 4,960 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,080.87 | £408.09 | £340.07 | £3,060.65 | 3,700 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,897.04 | £489.70 | £408.09 | £3,672.78 | 370 |
- North Hertfordshire
- England average
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Where your North Hertfordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by North Hertfordshire but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,448.52 Band D charge, £275.79 (11%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £275.79 | 11.3% | £245.15 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,858.19 | 75.9% | £1,651.72 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £280.00 | 11.4% | £248.89 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £34.54 | 1.4% | £30.70 |
- District council £276 11.3%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858 75.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £280 11.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £35 1.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across North Hertfordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
North Hertfordshire council tax history
Band D in North Hertfordshire has risen from £1,566.53 in 2016/17 to £2,448.52 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.7%, the 118th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- North Hertfordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,448.52 | +5.0% | £2,176.46 |
| 2025/26 | £2,332.61 | +4.8% | £2,073.43 |
| 2024/25 | £2,225.95 | +4.8% | £1,978.62 |
| 2023/24 | £2,123.49 | +5.0% | £1,887.55 |
| 2022/23 | £2,023.00 | +3.8% | £1,798.22 |
| 2021/22 | £1,948.68 | +4.1% | £1,732.16 |
| 2020/21 | £1,871.35 | +3.9% | £1,663.42 |
| 2019/20 | £1,801.51 | +4.1% | £1,601.34 |
| 2018/19 | £1,730.21 | +5.7% | £1,537.96 |
| 2017/18 | £1,636.74 | +4.5% | £1,454.88 |
| 2016/17 | £1,566.53 | – | £1,392.47 |
Homes by council tax band in North Hertfordshire
North Hertfordshire has 60,510 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 21% 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 C, which costs £2,176.46 a year (£217.65 a month over 10 instalments).
North Hertfordshire compared with East of England
North Hertfordshire is the 32nd cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£57.32 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Luton | £2,439.93 | +5.1% |
| Breckland | £2,443.67 | +4.9% |
| Watford | £2,446.70 | +4.4% |
| North Hertfordshire | £2,448.52 | +5% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | £2,452.26 | +5.1% |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +4.9% |
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in North Hertfordshire drops from £2,176.46 to £1,632.35.
- Council Tax Reduction: North Hertfordshire 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).
North Hertfordshire's 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.
Second homes in North Hertfordshire: premium from April 2026
North Hertfordshire District Council added a 100% premium for second homes from 1 April 2026, a year later than the earliest date councils could do so. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays double. Band C is the most common band here (34% of homes). A Band C second home costs £4,352.92 in 2026/27 instead of £2,176.46. If one of the national exceptions applies, you can ask the council to remove the premium, but you must provide evidence.
Empty homes: 56 days free, then premiums after a year
North Hertfordshire still gives a local discount on empty homes. An empty, unfurnished home gets 100% off for 56 days, and the full charge applies from day 57. For the rest of the first 12 months you pay only the standard charge. After that, premiums apply:
- Annual rates; the 56-day discount and first-year charge apply only to the part of the year they cover.
- The council reviews empty homes each year. The review is run for it by the contractor NEC, using council data, third-party data and specialist checks. Only fill in a review form if you get a letter asking you to.
| Empty for | Premium | Band C total 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| First 56 days | 100% discount | £0.00 |
| Day 57 to 12 months | None | £2,176.46 |
| 1 to 5 years | 100% | £4,352.92 |
| 5 to 10 years | 200% | £6,529.39 |
| More than 10 years | 300% | £8,705.85 |
Council Tax Reduction and paying in North Hertfordshire
North Hertfordshire's Council Tax Reduction scheme works out maximum support as 100% of the bill after discounts, before any deductions for other adults. Up to £50 a week of net earnings is ignored, one disregard per claim whatever the household. Child Benefit, maintenance, Attendance Allowance, PIP and DLA are also ignored. Savings over £16,000 rule you out unless you are over pension age and get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. You claim through the eBenefits service, and support usually starts from the Monday after the form arrives.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 25th or 28th of the month, with at least 14 days' notice of any change. You can also pay by card online, at a Post Office or a Payzone or PayPoint shop, or through the Allpay app using the barcode on your bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in North Hertfordshire?
£2,448.52 a year in 2026/27, or £244.85 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in North Hertfordshire?
Band C: 20,420 of 60,510 homes (34%). A Band C bill is £2,176.46 in 2026/27.
How much has North Hertfordshire council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,332.61 to £2,448.52 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in North Hertfordshire?
District council £275.79; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858.19; Police and crime commissioner £280.00; Parish/town council (average) £34.54 (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.
When did North Herts start charging double council tax on second homes?
From 1 April 2026. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays a 100% premium on top of the standard charge.
Is there a discount for empty homes in North Hertfordshire?
Yes. Empty, unfurnished homes get 100% off for 56 days. Full council tax is due from day 57, and a premium starts after 12 months empty.
What direct debit dates does North Hertfordshire offer?
Five dates: the 1st, 8th, 15th, 25th or 28th of the month.
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
- North Hertfordshire Council – Empty properties and second homes
- North Hertfordshire Council – Council Tax Reduction scheme 2026/27 (PDF)
- North Hertfordshire Council – Apply for benefits
- North Hertfordshire Council – Pay your Council Tax