Rossendale Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Rossendale is £2,519.97 for 2026/27, up 3.9% (£95.60) on last year. That is £128.45 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 217th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (50%), so the average bill per home is about £2,058.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
Rossendale council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,679.98 | £168.00 | £140.00 | £1,259.99 | 16,520 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,959.98 | £196.00 | £163.33 | £1,469.98 | 5,250 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,239.97 | £224.00 | £186.66 | £1,679.98 | 4,450 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,519.97 | £252.00 | £210.00 | £1,889.98 | 3,470 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,079.96 | £308.00 | £256.66 | £2,309.97 | 2,050 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,639.96 | £364.00 | £303.33 | £2,729.97 | 720 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,199.95 | £420.00 | £350.00 | £3,149.96 | 470 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,039.94 | £503.99 | £419.99 | £3,779.96 | 40 |
- Rossendale
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Rossendale council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Rossendale but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,519.97 Band D charge, £327.16 (13%) 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 | £327.16 | 13.0% | £218.11 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 71.5% | £1,201.17 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 11.6% | £194.93 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 3.8% | £63.15 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £3.93 | 0.2% | £2.62 |
- District council £327 13.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 71.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 11.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £4 0.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Rossendale; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Rossendale council tax history
Band D in Rossendale has risen from £1,658.51 in 2016/17 to £2,519.97 in 2026/27 — 52% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.4%, the 241st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Rossendale Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,519.97 | +3.9% | £1,679.98 |
| 2025/26 | £2,424.37 | +4.8% | £1,616.25 |
| 2024/25 | £2,313.21 | +4.6% | £1,542.14 |
| 2023/24 | £2,210.82 | +4.2% | £1,473.88 |
| 2022/23 | £2,121.65 | +3.9% | £1,414.43 |
| 2021/22 | £2,042.78 | +4.0% | £1,361.85 |
| 2020/21 | £1,964.94 | +3.7% | £1,309.96 |
| 2019/20 | £1,894.30 | +4.7% | £1,262.87 |
| 2018/19 | £1,808.60 | +5.5% | £1,205.73 |
| 2017/18 | £1,713.66 | +3.3% | £1,142.44 |
| 2016/17 | £1,658.51 | – | £1,105.67 |
Homes by council tax band in Rossendale
Rossendale has 32,970 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 66% 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 £1,679.98 a year (£168.00 a month over 10 instalments).
Rossendale compared with North West
Rossendale is the 25th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£36.75 less than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | £2,511.32 | +4.9% |
| Blackpool | £2,513.22 | +5.1% |
| Cheshire West and Chester | £2,517.33 | +5.2% |
| Rossendale | £2,519.97 | +3.9% |
| Burnley | £2,549.42 | +3.8% |
| Bury | £2,555.15 | +5.8% |
| Preston | £2,575.74 | +4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Rossendale drops from £1,679.98 to £1,259.99.
- Council Tax Reduction: Rossendale 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).
Rossendale's 3.9% 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.
Whitworth is the only parish
In Rossendale, the only parish council is Whitworth Parish Council. Everywhere else, including Rawtenstall, Bacup and Haslingden, pays the borough-wide rate of £2,516.04 at Band D for 2026/27. Whitworth residents pay £2,551.34, which is £35.30 more. Rossendale Borough Council’s own precept is about 13% of the bill. Most of the rest goes to Lancashire County Council, and the remainder to Lancashire’s police and fire services.
| Band | Rossendale (no parish) | Whitworth |
|---|---|---|
| A | £1,677.36 | £1,700.89 |
| B | £1,956.92 | £1,984.38 |
| C | £2,236.48 | £2,267.85 |
| D | £2,516.04 | £2,551.34 |
Empty homes: discounts first, premiums after two years
Rossendale’s 2026/27 leaflet says that an empty, unfurnished home pays nothing for the first month and half the charge for months two to six. It pays the full charge from six months to two years. A premium starts only after two years, not one: 100% after two years, 200% after five and 300% after ten. A home that needs major repairs or structural work to be habitable can get 50% off for up to 12 months.
Second homes pay the full charge, with no premium mentioned in the leaflet. A furnished second home in Band C costs £2,236.48 (or £2,267.85 in Whitworth). Second homes empty only because your job requires you to live elsewhere, and annexes lived in by a relative, get 50% off.
Council Tax Support and paying
Working-age Council Tax Support in Rossendale covers at most 80% of the bill. So someone of working age on full support in a no-parish Band A home still pays £335.47 for the year. Pension-age claimants can get up to 100%. A Universal Credit claim does not count as a claim for council tax help, so you must claim separately. If another adult on a low income lives with you, Second Adult Rebate can take up to 25% off based on their income. Direct Debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd, over 10 or 12 months. Account numbers start with a 2.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Rossendale?
£2,519.97 a year in 2026/27, or £252.00 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Rossendale?
Band A: 16,520 of 32,970 homes (50%). A Band A bill is £1,679.98 in 2026/27.
How much has Rossendale council tax gone up?
3.9% this year, from £2,424.37 to £2,519.97 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 52%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Rossendale?
District council £327.16; 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) £3.93 (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 does the empty homes premium start in Rossendale?
After a home has been empty and unfurnished for two years. Before that it pays nothing for the first month, 50% for months two to six, and the full charge from six months to two years.
What is the maximum council tax support in Rossendale?
For working-age claimants, 80% of the bill. Pension-age claimants can get up to 100%.
Do I pay more council tax in Whitworth?
Yes. Whitworth has the borough’s only parish council, so Band D is £2,551.34 there in 2026/27, compared with £2,516.04 elsewhere in Rossendale.
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)
- Rossendale BC – Council Tax charges and bands 2026/2027
- Rossendale BC – Council Tax leaflet 2026/2027 (PDF)
- Rossendale BC – Unoccupied property
- Rossendale BC – Pay your Council Tax