Peterborough Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Peterborough is £2,293.47 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£107.75) on last year. That is £98.05 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 51st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (39%), so the average bill per home is about £1,895.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, East of England · Official England government statistics
Peterborough council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,528.98 | £152.90 | £127.41 | £1,146.74 | 36,030 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,783.81 | £178.38 | £148.65 | £1,337.86 | 23,050 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,038.64 | £203.86 | £169.89 | £1,528.98 | 15,940 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,293.47 | £229.35 | £191.12 | £1,720.10 | 9,380 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,803.13 | £280.31 | £233.59 | £2,102.35 | 5,030 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,312.79 | £331.28 | £276.07 | £2,484.59 | 2,040 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,822.45 | £382.25 | £318.54 | £2,866.84 | 1,080 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,586.94 | £458.69 | £382.24 | £3,440.21 | 80 |
- Peterborough
- England average
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Where your Peterborough council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Peterborough but shared between 6 bodies. Of the £2,293.47 Band D charge, £1,836.72 (80%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,801.73 | 78.6% | £1,201.15 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £34.99 | 1.5% | £23.33 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £314.37 | 13.7% | £209.58 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.16 | 4.0% | £61.44 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £36.00 | 1.6% | £24.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £14.22 | 0.6% | £9.48 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,802 78.6%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £314 13.7%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 4.0%
- Mayoral combined authority £36 1.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £14 0.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Peterborough; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Peterborough council tax history
Band D in Peterborough has risen from £1,432.35 in 2016/17 to £2,293.47 in 2026/27 — 60% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.4%, the 55th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Peterborough Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,293.47 | +4.9% | £1,528.98 |
| 2025/26 | £2,185.72 | +4.9% | £1,457.15 |
| 2024/25 | £2,082.65 | +6.1% | £1,388.43 |
| 2023/24 | £1,963.41 | +5.8% | £1,308.94 |
| 2022/23 | £1,855.85 | +3.1% | £1,237.23 |
| 2021/22 | £1,799.89 | +5.0% | £1,199.93 |
| 2020/21 | £1,714.55 | +3.9% | £1,143.03 |
| 2019/20 | £1,649.45 | +4.2% | £1,099.63 |
| 2018/19 | £1,583.23 | +5.8% | £1,055.49 |
| 2017/18 | £1,496.04 | +4.4% | £997.36 |
| 2016/17 | £1,432.35 | – | £954.90 |
Homes by council tax band in Peterborough
Peterborough has 92,630 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 64% 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 £1,528.98 a year (£152.90 a month over 10 instalments).
Peterborough compared with East of England
Peterborough is the 8th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£97.73 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Epping Forest | £2,277.21 | +4.1% |
| Braintree | £2,280.34 | +3.9% |
| Colchester | £2,282.85 | +4.1% |
| Peterborough | £2,293.47 | +4.9% |
| Harlow | £2,298.69 | +3.7% |
| Chelmsford | £2,300.18 | +4.2% |
| Broxbourne | £2,306.43 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Peterborough drops from £1,528.98 to £1,146.74.
- Council Tax Reduction: Peterborough 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).
Peterborough's 4.9% 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-build homes waiting for a band
If you have moved into a new-build or converted home in Peterborough, you may wait a long time for your first council tax bill. In March 2026 the city council warned that the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of HMRC, is introducing a new computer system. This has caused delays of more than a year in banding some new homes. Once a band is set, the charge is backdated to the date it should have started. The council advises you either to set money aside or to start making payments on account using its suggested amounts, so you do not build up a large debt.
To see what you might owe, look up your likely band. A Band C home in Peterborough costs £2,038.64 for 2026/27 at the average parish rate, about £169.89 for every month you wait. Once you have a band, you can challenge it through GOV.UK. The council can also report changes such as extensions, conversions into flats, annexes and HMOs to the VOA for you. The VOA has 90 working days to look into these reports.
Council Tax Support: claim separately from Universal Credit
Peterborough’s Council Tax Support is means-tested. A Universal Credit claim does not count as a claim for council tax help, so you must apply to the city council separately and promptly. This matters because working-age claims can only be backdated by one month. Pension-age claims can be backdated by three months. The council currently takes three to four weeks to decide claims.
Peterborough also still offers Second Adult Rebate. You can get it whatever your own income or savings, if another adult on a low income who is not your partner lives with you and pays you no rent.
Premiums and paying
- Empty, unfurnished homes pay the normal charge for the first year. After that the bill rises to 200%, then to 300% after five years and 400% after ten. These rates have applied since 1 April 2024.
- Second homes: a 100% premium from the first day since 1 April 2025. A Band D second home costs £4,586.94. The council checks occupancy against data from other sources and warns that giving false information is fraud.
- Direct Debit dates are the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th. The standard plan is 10 instalments from April to January. If you are struggling to pay, you can ask for 12. You can pay free of charge at about 50 Payzone outlets around the city.
- Care leavers aged 18 to 25 should ask their Personal Adviser about a council tax discount.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Peterborough?
£2,293.47 a year in 2026/27, or £229.35 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Peterborough?
Band A: 36,030 of 92,630 homes (39%). A Band A bill is £1,528.98 in 2026/27.
How much has Peterborough council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,185.72 to £2,293.47 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 60%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Peterborough?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,801.73; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £34.99; Police and crime commissioner £314.37; Fire and rescue authority £92.16; Mayoral combined authority £36.00; Parish/town council (average) £14.22 (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.
Why have I not had a council tax bill for my new-build home in Peterborough?
The Valuation Office Agency has had delays of more than a year in banding some new homes while it introduces a new system. When the band is set, the bill is backdated, so Peterborough City Council advises you to set money aside or start paying on account.
How far back can council tax support be backdated in Peterborough?
One month for working-age claimants and three months for pension-age claimants. Apply as soon as you can, because a Universal Credit claim does not count.
Does Peterborough charge a second homes premium?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025, furnished homes that are nobody’s main home pay 200% council tax from the first day.
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)
- Peterborough City Council – Council tax bands and VOA delays
- Peterborough City Council – Council tax support
- Peterborough City Council – Empty properties and second homes
- Peterborough City Council – Council tax payment options
- Peterborough City Council – Council tax explained