St Albans Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in St Albans is £2,419.22 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£113.27) on last year. That is £27.70 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 132nd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (26%), so the average bill per home is about £2,874.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
St Albans council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,612.81 | £161.28 | £134.40 | £1,209.61 | 900 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,881.62 | £188.16 | £156.80 | £1,411.21 | 3,220 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,150.42 | £215.04 | £179.20 | £1,612.81 | 10,580 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,419.22 | £241.92 | £201.60 | £1,814.42 | 16,540 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,956.82 | £295.68 | £246.40 | £2,217.62 | 13,140 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,494.43 | £349.44 | £291.20 | £2,620.82 | 9,570 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,032.03 | £403.20 | £336.00 | £3,024.03 | 8,320 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,838.44 | £483.84 | £403.20 | £3,628.83 | 1,440 |
- St Albans
- England average
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Where your St Albans council tax goes
Your bill is collected by St Albans but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,419.22 Band D charge, £214.22 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £214.22 | 8.9% | £214.22 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,858.19 | 76.8% | £1,858.19 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £280.00 | 11.6% | £280.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £66.81 | 2.8% | £66.81 |
- District council £214 8.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858 76.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £280 11.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £67 2.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across St Albans; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
St Albans council tax history
Band D in St Albans has risen from £1,541.65 in 2016/17 to £2,419.22 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.1%, the 97th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- St Albans Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,419.22 | +4.9% | £2,419.22 |
| 2025/26 | £2,305.95 | +4.9% | £2,305.95 |
| 2024/25 | £2,198.55 | +5.0% | £2,198.55 |
| 2023/24 | £2,093.99 | +5.0% | £2,093.99 |
| 2022/23 | £1,994.06 | +3.9% | £1,994.06 |
| 2021/22 | £1,918.32 | +4.3% | £1,918.32 |
| 2020/21 | £1,839.97 | +4.0% | £1,839.97 |
| 2019/20 | £1,768.65 | +4.0% | £1,768.65 |
| 2018/19 | £1,700.26 | +5.6% | £1,700.26 |
| 2017/18 | £1,609.85 | +4.4% | £1,609.85 |
| 2016/17 | £1,541.65 | – | £1,541.65 |
Homes by council tax band in St Albans
St Albans has 63,710 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 6% 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 £2,419.22 a year (£241.92 a month over 10 instalments).
St Albans compared with East of England
St Albans is the 25th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£28.02 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hertsmere | £2,405.83 | +5.1% |
| Dacorum | £2,408.51 | +5% |
| Great Yarmouth | £2,414.41 | +4.7% |
| St Albans | £2,419.22 | +4.9% |
| Three Rivers | £2,422.31 | +5% |
| Kings Lynn and West Norfolk | £2,430.13 | +4.8% |
| Broadland | £2,437.78 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in St Albans drops from £2,419.22 to £1,814.42.
- Council Tax Reduction: St Albans 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).
St Albans's 4.9% 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.
St Albans' flat-rate Council Tax Support for Universal Credit claimants
St Albans City and District Council keeps the old Council Tax Benefit rules for most claimants, so support can reach 100% of the bill. Since April 2019, working-age claimants on Universal Credit have used a simpler banded scheme instead. The council looks only at the combined monthly earnings of you and any partner, which it gets straight from the DWP. It ignores Universal Credit itself and other income. Your income band sets a fixed monthly amount you pay towards council tax, whatever your property’s band or bill.
- Because your share is fixed, the support grows with the bill. A Universal Credit claimant earning £1,000 a month pays £1,200 a year either way. In a Band C home (£2,150.42) that leaves £950.42 of support. In a Band E home (£2,956.82) it leaves £1,756.82.
- Deductions for other adults in the home still apply, even in the £0 band.
| Monthly earnings (you and partner) | You pay each month | You pay over the year |
|---|---|---|
| Not working, or under £370 | £0 | £0 |
| £370 to £749.99 | £45 | £540 |
| £750 to £1,439.99 | £100 | £1,200 |
| £1,440 to £2,284.99 | £150 | £1,800 |
| £2,285 to £2,939.99 | £230 | £2,760 |
| £2,940 to £3,599.99 | £295 | £3,540 |
| £3,600 or more | No support | Full bill (£2,419.22 at Band D) |
Empty and second homes in St Albans
St Albans gives no discount on second homes or on empty, unfurnished homes. The one exception is a home under major structural repair, which can get 50% off for up to six months (a Class D discount). You apply through MyStAlbans with photos and a builder’s schedule of works. Homes empty for more than two years pay a 100% premium. Homes empty for more than five years pay 200%, and 10 years or more pays 300%. A Band F home empty for three years costs £6,988.86 a year. Buying an empty home does not reset the clock. Homes being demolished may be removed from the valuation list, but you must keep paying until that happens.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in St Albans?
£2,419.22 a year in 2026/27, or £241.92 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in St Albans?
Band D: 16,540 of 63,710 homes (26%). A Band D bill is £2,419.22 in 2026/27.
How much has St Albans council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,305.95 to £2,419.22 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in St Albans?
District council £214.22; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858.19; Police and crime commissioner £280.00; Parish/town council (average) £66.81 (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.
How much council tax do I pay on Universal Credit in St Albans?
A fixed amount set by your monthly earnings: £0 under £370, rising to £295 a month for earnings of £2,940 to £3,599.99. At £3,600 or more you get no support.
Is there a discount for a property under renovation in St Albans?
Yes. A home empty because of major structural repairs can get 50% off for up to six months (Class D discount).
Can Council Tax Support cover 100% in St Albans?
Yes. Pensioners and working-age claimants not on Universal Credit are assessed like the old Council Tax Benefit, up to 100%. Universal Credit claimants with no earnings, or under £370 a month, pay nothing apart from any deductions for other adults.
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)
- St Albans City and District Council – Council Tax Support
- St Albans City and District Council – Empty properties