South Cambridgeshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Cambridgeshire is £2,536.25 for 2026/27, up 5% (£121.73) on last year. That is £144.73 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 225th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (30%), so the average bill per home is about £2,704.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
South Cambridgeshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,690.83 | £169.08 | £140.90 | £1,268.13 | 2,860 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,972.64 | £197.26 | £164.39 | £1,479.48 | 9,010 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,254.44 | £225.44 | £187.87 | £1,690.83 | 22,990 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,536.25 | £253.63 | £211.35 | £1,902.19 | 14,130 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,099.86 | £309.99 | £258.32 | £2,324.90 | 12,830 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,663.47 | £366.35 | £305.29 | £2,747.60 | 8,920 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,227.08 | £422.71 | £352.26 | £3,170.31 | 4,960 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,072.50 | £507.25 | £422.71 | £3,804.38 | 420 |
- South Cambridgeshire
- England average
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Where your South Cambridgeshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Cambridgeshire but shared between 6 bodies. Of the £2,536.25 Band D charge, £180.64 (7%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £180.64 | 7.1% | £160.57 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,785.42 | 70.4% | £1,587.04 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £314.37 | 12.4% | £279.44 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.16 | 3.6% | £81.92 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £36.00 | 1.4% | £32.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £127.66 | 5.0% | £113.48 |
- District council £181 7.1%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,785 70.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £314 12.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £92 3.6%
- Mayoral combined authority £36 1.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £128 5.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Cambridgeshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Cambridgeshire council tax history
Band D in South Cambridgeshire has risen from £1,625.35 in 2016/17 to £2,536.25 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.7%, the 18th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Cambridgeshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,536.25 | +5.0% | £2,254.44 |
| 2025/26 | £2,414.52 | +4.8% | £2,146.24 |
| 2024/25 | £2,303.96 | +5.9% | £2,047.96 |
| 2023/24 | £2,176.05 | +5.5% | £1,934.27 |
| 2022/23 | £2,062.05 | +4.6% | £1,832.93 |
| 2021/22 | £1,971.04 | +3.4% | £1,752.04 |
| 2020/21 | £1,906.70 | +3.6% | £1,694.84 |
| 2019/20 | £1,840.60 | +5.4% | £1,636.09 |
| 2018/19 | £1,745.51 | +5.0% | £1,551.56 |
| 2017/18 | £1,662.89 | +2.3% | £1,478.12 |
| 2016/17 | £1,625.35 | – | £1,444.76 |
Homes by council tax band in South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire has 76,120 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 16% 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 £2,254.44 a year (£225.44 a month over 10 instalments).
South Cambridgeshire compared with East of England
South Cambridgeshire is the 43rd cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£145.05 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Cambridgeshire | £2,485.18 | +4.7% |
| Norwich | £2,503.44 | +4.7% |
| Central Bedfordshire | £2,516.16 | +5.1% |
| South Cambridgeshire | £2,536.25 | +5% |
| Fenland | £2,537.74 | +4.3% |
| Huntingdonshire | £2,556.40 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in South Cambridgeshire drops from £2,254.44 to £1,690.83.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Cambridgeshire 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).
South Cambridgeshire's 5% 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 premiums from April 2026 in South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire brought in its premiums later than many councils. Its second homes premium started on 1 April 2026, a year after the earliest date the law allowed. A furnished home that is nobody's main home now pays double: £5,072.50 at Band D in 2026/27, against £2,536.25 for an occupied home. Before April 2026 second homes paid the normal charge.
From the same date, the long-term empty premium starts after one year empty instead of two. Before that, empty homes paid a 100% premium after 2 years (since April 2019), 200% after 5 years (since April 2020) and 300% after 10 years (since April 2021).
- Empty homes get no discount. Full council tax is due from the day the last tenant leaves, including gaps between tenants.
- An empty home needing major repairs can get up to 100% off for up to 12 months. That discount ends if the home becomes long-term empty. New kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring, damp treatment, re-plastering and moving non-load-bearing walls do not count.
- If someone lives in the home, or it is furnished, for less than six weeks, the long-term empty clock does not restart. Selling the home does not restart it either.
Council Tax Support and hardship help
South Cambridgeshire’s working-age Council Tax Support can cover up to 100% of the bill, depending on household income and circumstances. The council sets the scheme each January for the following year. It counts up to eight children, at £75 a week each, in 2026/27. When the Universal Credit two-child limit ends in April 2026, a higher UC award can mean less Council Tax Support. If you still cannot pay, you can apply to the discretionary reduction scheme under section 13A(1)(c). It is meant for short-term hardship, not ongoing help.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Cambridgeshire?
£2,536.25 a year in 2026/27, or £253.63 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Cambridgeshire?
Band C: 22,990 of 76,120 homes (30%). A Band C bill is £2,254.44 in 2026/27.
How much has South Cambridgeshire council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,414.52 to £2,536.25 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Cambridgeshire?
District council £180.64; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,785.42; Police and crime commissioner £314.37; Fire and rescue authority £92.16; Mayoral combined authority £36.00; Parish/town council (average) £127.66 (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 South Cambridgeshire start charging double on second homes?
On 1 April 2026. Before that, second homes paid the normal charge.
How long can a home be empty in South Cambridgeshire before a premium applies?
One year, from 1 April 2026. It used to be two years.
How much Council Tax Support can I get in South Cambridgeshire?
Up to 100% of the bill, depending on your income and household. The scheme counts up to eight children.
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)
- South Cambridgeshire District Council – Charges for empty properties and second homes
- South Cambridgeshire District Council – What benefits are available to me?
- South Cambridgeshire District Council – Discretionary reduction scheme