Pendle Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Pendle is £2,640.18 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£104.99) on last year. That is £248.66 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 277th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (60%), so the average bill per home is about £2,092.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
Pendle council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,760.12 | £176.01 | £146.68 | £1,320.09 | 25,210 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,053.47 | £205.35 | £171.12 | £1,540.11 | 4,870 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,346.83 | £234.68 | £195.57 | £1,760.12 | 4,660 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,640.18 | £264.02 | £220.02 | £1,980.13 | 3,560 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,226.89 | £322.69 | £268.91 | £2,420.17 | 1,910 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,813.59 | £381.36 | £317.80 | £2,860.19 | 1,050 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,400.30 | £440.03 | £366.69 | £3,300.23 | 560 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,280.36 | £528.04 | £440.03 | £3,960.27 | 40 |
- Pendle
- England average
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Where your Pendle council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Pendle but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,640.18 Band D charge, £316.71 (12%) 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 A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £316.71 | 12.0% | £211.14 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 68.2% | £1,201.17 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 11.1% | £194.93 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 3.6% | £63.15 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £134.59 | 5.1% | £89.73 |
- District council £317 12.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 68.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 11.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £135 5.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Pendle; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Pendle council tax history
Band D in Pendle has risen from £1,698.07 in 2016/17 to £2,640.18 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.0%, the 198th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Pendle Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,640.18 | +4.1% | £1,760.12 |
| 2025/26 | £2,535.19 | +5.0% | £1,690.13 |
| 2024/25 | £2,415.07 | +4.9% | £1,610.05 |
| 2023/24 | £2,301.54 | +4.1% | £1,534.36 |
| 2022/23 | £2,211.42 | +3.9% | £1,474.28 |
| 2021/22 | £2,128.59 | +3.8% | £1,419.06 |
| 2020/21 | £2,049.85 | +4.3% | £1,366.57 |
| 2019/20 | £1,964.59 | +4.9% | £1,309.73 |
| 2018/19 | £1,872.45 | +6.0% | £1,248.30 |
| 2017/18 | £1,766.20 | +4.0% | £1,177.47 |
| 2016/17 | £1,698.07 | – | £1,132.05 |
Homes by council tax band in Pendle
Pendle has 41,860 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 72% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,760.12 a year (£176.01 a month over 10 instalments).
Pendle compared with North West
Pendle is the 34th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£156.96 less than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Rochdale | £2,600.83 | +5.8% |
| Oldham | £2,602.23 | +5.8% |
| Stockport | £2,618.90 | +5.8% |
| Pendle | £2,640.18 | +4.1% |
| Liverpool | £2,673.59 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Pendle drops from £1,760.12 to £1,320.09.
- Council Tax Reduction: Pendle 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).
Pendle's 4.1% 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.
Council Tax Support in Pendle
Pendle’s Council Tax Support lets you apply with savings of up to £16,000. Many English councils set a lower limit of £6,000 for working-age claims. The council also still offers Second Adult Rebate. This can reduce your bill if another adult lives with you who pays you no rent and is not liable for council tax, such as a grown-up child on a low income. It is based on the other person’s circumstances, so you can get it even if your own income or savings are too high for Council Tax Support.
From 1 April 2026, the scheme gives extra help to households where the bill payer, their partner or a dependant has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Existing claimants should report a diagnosis as a change of circumstances.
Empty homes: 28 days free, then premiums
When a home becomes empty and unfurnished, Pendle gives it a 100% discount for 28 days. You can only get this once per property, even if it changes owner. After that the full charge applies, and premiums are added the longer the home stays empty. In 2026/27, Band A is £1,760.12 a year at the borough-wide average, including the average parish precept. A Band A home empty for six years therefore costs £5,280.36.
- The council inspects homes to decide whether they are “substantially unfurnished”. A one-bedroom flat with a bed, sofa, fridge and cooker is likely to count as furnished. A four-bedroom detached house with the same items is likely to count as unfurnished.
- Second homes: Pendle began charging a 100% premium on 1 April 2026, a year later than many councils. A Band B second home now pays £4,106.95.
| Empty and unfurnished for | Premium | Total charge | In force since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 years | 100% | 200% | 1 April 2025 |
| 5–10 years | 200% | 300% | 1 April 2021 |
| Over 10 years | 300% | 400% | 1 April 2021 |
Parish precepts and “freeman” challenges
Pendle’s parish and town councils add an average of £134.59 at Band D, so the exact bill depends on which town or parish you live in. The council also publishes a page warning residents that “Freeman on the Land” arguments do not let anyone avoid council tax. These include claims about consent, Magna Carta or admiralty law. The council says liability comes from the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and that it will take recovery action against anyone who withholds payment. It points to a 2015 case at Manchester Magistrates’ Court in which a man who ran “freeman on the land” defences ended up in prison for 40 days.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Pendle?
£2,640.18 a year in 2026/27, or £264.02 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Pendle?
Band A: 25,210 of 41,860 homes (60%). A Band A bill is £1,760.12 in 2026/27.
How much has Pendle council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,535.19 to £2,640.18 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Pendle?
District council £316.71; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,801.75; Police and crime commissioner £292.40; Fire and rescue authority £94.73; Parish/town council (average) £134.59 (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 Pendle start charging double council tax on second homes?
On 1 April 2026. Furnished homes with no main resident now pay a 100% premium, which doubles the bill.
Is there a discount on empty homes in Pendle?
Yes, but only for 28 days. An empty, unfurnished home gets 100% off for its first 28 days, once per property. After that the full charge applies, with premiums from one year.
What is Second Adult Rebate in Pendle?
A council tax reduction you can get if you share your home with an adult on a low income who does not pay you rent and is not liable for council tax. It is based on the other person’s income, not yours.
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)
- Pendle Borough Council – Council Tax Support
- Pendle Borough Council – Council Tax for empty properties
- Pendle Borough Council – Council Tax for second homes
- Pendle Borough Council – Misconceptions about Council Tax