Richmond upon Thames Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Richmond upon Thames is £2,486.10 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£114.03) on last year. That is £94.58 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 189th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (24%), so the average bill per home is about £3,069.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
Richmond upon Thames council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,657.40 | £165.74 | £138.12 | £1,243.05 | 600 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,933.63 | £193.36 | £161.14 | £1,450.23 | 2,180 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,209.87 | £220.99 | £184.16 | £1,657.40 | 13,520 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,486.10 | £248.61 | £207.17 | £1,864.57 | 20,720 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,038.57 | £303.86 | £253.21 | £2,278.93 | 19,710 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,591.03 | £359.10 | £299.25 | £2,693.28 | 12,180 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,143.50 | £414.35 | £345.29 | £3,107.63 | 13,320 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,972.20 | £497.22 | £414.35 | £3,729.15 | 3,660 |
- Richmond upon Thames
- England average
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Where your Richmond upon Thames council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Richmond upon Thames but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,486.10 Band D charge, £1,975.59 (79%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,937.96 | 78.0% | £1,937.96 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.63 | 1.5% | £37.63 |
| Greater London Authority | £510.51 | 20.5% | £510.51 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,938 78.0%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38 1.5%
- Greater London Authority £511 20.5%
Richmond upon Thames council tax history
Band D in Richmond upon Thames has risen from £1,582.39 in 2016/17 to £2,486.10 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.9%, the 63rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Richmond upon Thames Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,486.10 | +4.8% | £2,486.10 |
| 2025/26 | £2,372.07 | +4.8% | £2,372.07 |
| 2024/25 | £2,263.66 | +5.7% | £2,263.66 |
| 2023/24 | £2,141.21 | +5.9% | £2,141.21 |
| 2022/23 | £2,021.53 | +3.2% | £2,021.53 |
| 2021/22 | £1,958.66 | +4.6% | £1,958.66 |
| 2020/21 | £1,871.64 | +3.8% | £1,871.64 |
| 2019/20 | £1,803.72 | +5.7% | £1,803.72 |
| 2018/19 | £1,706.94 | +4.2% | £1,706.94 |
| 2017/18 | £1,638.54 | +3.5% | £1,638.54 |
| 2016/17 | £1,582.39 | – | £1,582.39 |
Homes by council tax band in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames has 85,890 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 3% 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 £2,486.10 a year (£248.61 a month over 10 instalments).
Richmond upon Thames compared with London
Richmond upon Thames is the 30th cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£396.02 less than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton | £2,378.64 | +4.8% |
| Waltham Forest | £2,386.96 | +4.8% |
| Havering | £2,424.66 | +4.8% |
| Richmond upon Thames | £2,486.10 | +4.8% |
| Harrow | £2,511.07 | +4.8% |
| Croydon | £2,599.91 | +4.8% |
| Kingston upon Thames | £2,609.20 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Richmond upon Thames drops from £2,486.10 to £1,864.57.
- Council Tax Reduction: Richmond upon Thames 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).
Richmond upon Thames's 4.8% 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.
Richmond’s 2026/27 increase
Richmond raised its own share by 4.99%: 2.99% for general services and 2% for adult social care. The Greater London Authority raised its precept by 4.1%, so the total bill went up by 4.8%. At Band D you pay £2,486.10, of which £510.51 goes to the GLA. On the standard 10 instalments, that is £248.61 a month. On 12 instalments, which you can apply for, it is £207.17.
Council Tax Reduction: five working-age schemes
Richmond places working-age claimants in one of five schemes, depending on their circumstances rather than a detailed means test. Households on out-of-work benefits, and households where nobody works and someone gets a disability or carer benefit, can still get 100% off. Working households get a percentage based on net weekly earnings. Families with children get a slightly higher percentage. In schemes 2 to 5, support is capped at the Band E charge, so people in Bands F to H pay the difference.
- Example: a working parent earning £250 a week net gets 60% off. In a Band C home (£2,209.87) they pay £883.95 for the year.
- Example: an out-of-work claimant in a Band G home gets 100% of the Band E charge (£3,038.57) and pays the £1,104.93 difference.
- The working-age savings limit is £16,000.
- Households in schemes 4 and 5 whose support fell when the scheme changed in 2025/26 get transitional protection for three years. They get the full difference in year one, two-thirds in year two and one-third in year three.
| Net weekly earnings | No children (scheme 4) | With children (scheme 5) |
|---|---|---|
| £0–£125 | 80% | 85% |
| £125.01–£225 | 65% | 70% |
| £225.01–£325 | 50% | 60% |
| £325.01–£475 | 35% | 40% |
Empty homes and second homes
Second homes pay a 100% premium. Homes empty and unfurnished for more than a year pay double, rising to triple after five years and four times after ten. Richmond sets out how inherited homes are treated. They are fully exempt from the date of death until six months after probate is granted. They pay the standard charge, with no premium, from six to 12 months after probate. After that the premium applies. Direct Debits are taken on the 1st or 18th of the month. The council warns that the Valuation Office Agency is slow to band new and altered homes, and that the council cannot chase it for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Richmond upon Thames?
£2,486.10 a year in 2026/27, or £248.61 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Richmond upon Thames?
Band D: 20,720 of 85,890 homes (24%). A Band D bill is £2,486.10 in 2026/27.
How much has Richmond upon Thames council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,372.07 to £2,486.10 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Richmond upon Thames?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,937.96; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.63; Greater London Authority £510.51 (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.
Can you get 100% council tax reduction in Richmond upon Thames?
Yes, if you are on out-of-work benefits, or nobody in the household works and someone gets a disability or carer benefit. Working households get between 35% and 85% off, depending on earnings and whether they have children.
How much did Richmond council tax go up in 2026/27?
Richmond’s own share rose 4.99%, including 2% for adult social care, and the GLA precept rose 4.1%. The total bill rose 4.8%.
When does the empty homes premium start on an inherited property in Richmond?
The home is exempt until six months after probate is granted. It then pays the standard charge until 12 months after probate, when the 100% premium starts.
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)
- Richmond Council – Council Tax bands and charges 2026/27
- Richmond Council – Council Tax Reduction eligibility 2026/2027
- Richmond Council – Empty property premium
- Richmond Council – Second homes and empty homes
- Richmond Council – Pay your Council Tax