Rochford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Rochford is £2,363.48 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£95.48) on last year. That is £28.04 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 97th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (31%), so the average bill per home is about £2,407.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Rochford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,575.65 | £157.57 | £131.30 | £1,181.74 | 1,600 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,838.26 | £183.83 | £153.19 | £1,378.70 | 4,140 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,100.87 | £210.09 | £175.07 | £1,575.65 | 12,150 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,363.48 | £236.35 | £196.96 | £1,772.61 | 10,990 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,888.70 | £288.87 | £240.72 | £2,166.52 | 5,420 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,413.92 | £341.39 | £284.49 | £2,560.44 | 2,840 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,939.13 | £393.91 | £328.26 | £2,954.35 | 1,460 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,726.96 | £472.70 | £393.91 | £3,545.22 | 80 |
- Rochford
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Rochford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Rochford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,363.48 Band D charge, £272.88 (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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £272.88 | 11.5% | £242.56 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,641.96 | 69.5% | £1,459.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £275.31 | 11.6% | £244.72 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.52 | 3.9% | £82.24 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £80.81 | 3.4% | £71.83 |
- District council £273 11.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,642 69.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £275 11.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 3.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £81 3.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Rochford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Rochford council tax history
Band D in Rochford has risen from £1,604.00 in 2016/17 to £2,363.48 in 2026/27 — 47% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.4%, the 240th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Rochford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,363.48 | +4.2% | £2,100.87 |
| 2025/26 | £2,268.00 | +4.3% | £2,016.00 |
| 2024/25 | £2,175.36 | +4.8% | £1,933.65 |
| 2023/24 | £2,076.12 | +4.1% | £1,845.44 |
| 2022/23 | £1,993.97 | +4.1% | £1,772.42 |
| 2021/22 | £1,915.79 | +1.9% | £1,702.92 |
| 2020/21 | £1,880.63 | +3.6% | £1,671.67 |
| 2019/20 | £1,814.82 | +4.9% | £1,613.17 |
| 2018/19 | £1,730.71 | +4.8% | £1,538.41 |
| 2017/18 | £1,651.35 | +3.0% | £1,467.87 |
| 2016/17 | £1,604.00 | – | £1,425.78 |
Homes by council tax band in Rochford
Rochford has 38,680 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 15% 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 £2,100.87 a year (£210.09 a month over 10 instalments).
Rochford compared with East of England
Rochford is the 20th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£27.72 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Suffolk | £2,334.80 | +5.1% |
| Babergh | £2,341.55 | +4.9% |
| West Suffolk | £2,351.47 | +4.8% |
| Rochford | £2,363.48 | +4.2% |
| Stevenage | £2,391.97 | +4.9% |
| Hertsmere | £2,405.83 | +5.1% |
| Dacorum | £2,408.51 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Rochford drops from £2,100.87 to £1,575.65.
- Council Tax Reduction: Rochford 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).
Rochford's 4.2% 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: everyone of working age pays at least 25%
Rochford’s working-age Council Tax Support is banded by income and capped at 75% of the bill. Even claimants on income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Income Support get 75%, not 100%. The bill shows a code, such as A1 or C3, that tells you your household type and band. The council no longer sends separate award letters.
- On a Band C home (£2,100.87 at the district’s average parish rate), a claimant on 75% support still pays £525.22 for the year.
- The first £20 a week of household earnings is ignored. So are DLA, PIP, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Benefit, maintenance, and several Universal Credit elements (housing, carer, limited capability for work and disabled child).
- The income of other adults living with you does not reduce your support. If you have savings over £6,000 you cannot get support.
- You must report changes within 21 days, or you could get a £70 penalty.
| Net weekly income | Single or couple, no children | With 1 child | With 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0–£105 | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| £105.01–£185 | 50% | 75% | 75% |
| £185.01–£265 | 25% | 50% | 75% |
| £265.01–£345 | 0% | 25% | 50% |
| £345.01–£425 | 0% | 0% | 25% |
Where you live in Rochford district
Every part of the district has a parish or town council, and Band D varies by more than £130 between them. Great Wakering is the cheapest at £2,323.80, with Hawkwell at £2,328.05 and Rayleigh at £2,350.60. Sutton is the most expensive at £2,462.44, followed by Stambridge (£2,429.14) and Barling (£2,416.54). Rochford town is £2,378.33 and Hockley £2,407.69.
Empty homes, care leavers and paying
There is no discount for empty homes, second homes or homes needing major works. Unfurnished homes empty for more than a year pay a 100% premium, rising to 200% after five years and 300% after ten. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025. From 1 April 2026 the council extended its discretionary care leaver reduction from under-21s to under-25s, and it now covers care leavers from any local authority, not only Essex. Direct Debits can be taken in 1, 2, 10 or 12 instalments on the 1st, 10th or 20th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Rochford?
£2,363.48 a year in 2026/27, or £236.35 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Rochford?
Band C: 12,150 of 38,680 homes (31%). A Band C bill is £2,100.87 in 2026/27.
How much has Rochford council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,268.00 to £2,363.48 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 47%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Rochford?
District council £272.88; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,641.96; Police and crime commissioner £275.31; Fire and rescue authority £92.52; Parish/town council (average) £80.81 (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.
What is the maximum council tax support in Rochford?
For working-age claimants, 75% of the bill, so everyone pays at least 25%. Pension-age claimants can get up to 100%.
Which parish has the lowest council tax in Rochford district?
Great Wakering, at £2,323.80 for Band D in 2026/27. Sutton is the highest at £2,462.44.
Can care leavers get a council tax reduction in Rochford?
Yes. Since 1 April 2026 a discretionary reduction is available until age 25, whichever local authority looked after you. You must claim any other discounts and support first.
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)
- Rochford DC – Local Council Tax Support for working age people
- Rochford DC – Council Tax billing information 2026/27
- Rochford DC – Discounts and exemptions
- Rochford DC – Care leaver reduction
- Rochford DC – About paying Council Tax