South Hams Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Hams is £2,615.22 for 2026/27, up 5% (£123.47) on last year. That is £223.70 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 271st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (20%), so the average bill per home is about £2,679.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South West · Official England government statistics
South Hams council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,743.48 | £174.35 | £145.29 | £1,307.61 | 5,350 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,034.06 | £203.41 | £169.51 | £1,525.55 | 9,160 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,324.64 | £232.46 | £193.72 | £1,743.48 | 9,670 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,615.22 | £261.52 | £217.93 | £1,961.42 | 8,630 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,196.38 | £319.64 | £266.37 | £2,397.29 | 7,650 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,777.54 | £377.75 | £314.79 | £2,833.15 | 4,160 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,358.70 | £435.87 | £363.22 | £3,269.02 | 3,200 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,230.44 | £523.04 | £435.87 | £3,922.83 | 380 |
- South Hams
- England average
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Where your South Hams council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Hams but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,615.22 Band D charge, £202.54 (8%) 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 | £202.54 | 7.7% | £180.04 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,891.17 | 72.3% | £1,681.04 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £303.20 | 11.6% | £269.51 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £109.68 | 4.2% | £97.49 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £108.63 | 4.2% | £96.56 |
- District council £203 7.7%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,891 72.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 11.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £110 4.2%
- Parish/town council (average) £109 4.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Hams; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Hams council tax history
Band D in South Hams has risen from £1,660.73 in 2016/17 to £2,615.22 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.1%, the 152nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Hams Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,615.22 | +5.0% | £2,324.64 |
| 2025/26 | £2,491.75 | +5.0% | £2,214.89 |
| 2024/25 | £2,372.19 | +4.9% | £2,108.61 |
| 2023/24 | £2,261.19 | +4.9% | £2,009.95 |
| 2022/23 | £2,155.30 | +3.1% | £1,915.82 |
| 2021/22 | £2,090.55 | +5.0% | £1,858.27 |
| 2020/21 | £1,990.82 | +4.1% | £1,769.62 |
| 2019/20 | £1,913.04 | +5.0% | £1,700.48 |
| 2018/19 | £1,821.93 | +4.9% | £1,619.49 |
| 2017/18 | £1,737.25 | +4.6% | £1,544.22 |
| 2016/17 | £1,660.73 | – | £1,476.20 |
Homes by council tax band in South Hams
South Hams has 48,200 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 30% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,324.64 a year (£232.46 a month over 10 instalments).
South Hams compared with South West
South Hams is the 21st cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£103.82 less than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | £2,590.93 | +5.3% |
| East Devon | £2,595.46 | +5.4% |
| Torridge | £2,601.42 | +4.9% |
| South Hams | £2,615.22 | +5% |
| North Devon | £2,642.21 | +5.1% |
| Teignbridge | £2,643.12 | +5.2% |
| Mid Devon | £2,656.41 | +5.4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in South Hams drops from £2,324.64 to £1,743.48.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Hams 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 Hams'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.
How South Hams campaigned for a second homes premium
South Hams District Council voted unanimously on 16 February 2023 to charge a 100% premium on second homes, doubling their bill, as soon as the law allowed. The council had declared a housing crisis in September 2021. One of the 12 actions in its plan was to lobby the government to let councils charge 200% council tax on second homes. The power appeared in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in May 2022. Under the final Act, councils could charge the premium from 1 April 2025 at the earliest.
At the time, the council leader said the district had just under 4,000 second homes, nearly 1 in every 12 homes. At 2026/27 rates, a 100% premium takes a Band D second home from £2,615.22 to £5,230.44 a year, and a Band F second home to £7,555.08.
Where the extra charge goes
The premium is not all kept by South Hams. Every body in the precept split gets a share in proportion. Of the £2,615.22 Band D charge, Devon County Council takes £1,891.17, police £303.20 and fire £109.68. South Hams itself sets only £202.54. Town and parish councils add an average of £108.63, but this varies a lot between parishes.
Holiday lets are taxed differently. A property counts as a second home only if it is furnished and nobody lives there as their main home. A self-catering let that is available for 140 nights a year and actually let for 70 is valued by the Valuation Office Agency for business rates instead. Seasonal homes whose planning rules ban year-round living are excepted from the premium by national regulations (Class L).
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Hams?
£2,615.22 a year in 2026/27, or £261.52 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Hams?
Band C: 9,670 of 48,200 homes (20%). A Band C bill is £2,324.64 in 2026/27.
How much has South Hams council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,491.75 to £2,615.22 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Hams?
District council £202.54; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,891.17; Police and crime commissioner £303.20; Fire and rescue authority £109.68; Parish/town council (average) £108.63 (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 Hams decide to double council tax on second homes?
On 16 February 2023, when the council voted unanimously to adopt a 100% premium as soon as the law allowed. The earliest start date under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act was 1 April 2025. At 2026/27 rates a doubled Band D bill is £5,230.44.
How many second homes are there in South Hams?
In February 2023 the council said there were just under 4,000, nearly 1 in every 12 homes in the district.
Is a holiday let in South Hams charged council tax or business rates?
Business rates, if it is available to let for at least 140 nights a year and actually let for at least 70. The Valuation Office Agency decides this. Otherwise it pays council tax, including the second homes premium.
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)
- Slapton Parish Council – SHDC update: council tax on second homes (16 February 2023)
- GOV.UK – Business rates on self-catering holiday lets
- GOV.UK – Guidance on council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes