Sunderland Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Sunderland is £2,197.14 for 2026/27, up 5% (£104.35) on last year. That is £194.38 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 25th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (59%), so the average bill per home is about £1,688.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, North East · Official England government statistics
Sunderland council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,464.76 | £146.48 | £122.06 | £1,098.57 | 80,440 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,708.89 | £170.89 | £142.41 | £1,281.67 | 20,310 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,953.01 | £195.30 | £162.75 | £1,464.76 | 18,570 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,197.14 | £219.71 | £183.10 | £1,647.86 | 10,290 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,685.39 | £268.54 | £223.78 | £2,014.05 | 3,900 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,173.65 | £317.36 | £264.47 | £2,380.23 | 1,250 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,661.90 | £366.19 | £305.16 | £2,746.43 | 710 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,394.28 | £439.43 | £366.19 | £3,295.71 | 60 |
- Sunderland
- England average
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Where your Sunderland council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Sunderland but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,197.14 Band D charge, £1,876.80 (85%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,840.88 | 83.8% | £1,227.25 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.92 | 1.6% | £23.95 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £214.34 | 9.8% | £142.89 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £105.11 | 4.8% | £70.07 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £0.89 | 0.0% | £0.59 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,841 83.8%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £214 9.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £105 4.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £1 0.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Sunderland; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Sunderland council tax history
Band D in Sunderland has risen from £1,403.42 in 2016/17 to £2,197.14 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.9%, the 206th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Sunderland Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,197.14 | +5.0% | £1,464.76 |
| 2025/26 | £2,092.79 | +4.8% | £1,395.19 |
| 2024/25 | £1,996.60 | +5.1% | £1,331.07 |
| 2023/24 | £1,899.13 | +3.7% | £1,266.09 |
| 2022/23 | £1,831.59 | +3.3% | £1,221.06 |
| 2021/22 | £1,773.71 | +4.8% | £1,182.47 |
| 2020/21 | £1,691.84 | +3.7% | £1,127.89 |
| 2019/20 | £1,631.12 | +5.2% | £1,087.41 |
| 2018/19 | £1,550.47 | +5.4% | £1,033.65 |
| 2017/18 | £1,471.50 | +4.9% | £981.00 |
| 2016/17 | £1,403.42 | – | £935.61 |
Homes by council tax band in Sunderland
Sunderland has 135,530 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 74% 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 £1,464.76 a year (£146.48 a month over 10 instalments).
Sunderland compared with North East
Sunderland is the 1st cheapest of 12 councils in North East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,525.66 (£328.52 more than here). Cheapest: Sunderland (£2,197.14); most expensive: Gateshead (£2,715.81).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | £2,197.14 | +5% |
| South Tyneside | £2,434.43 | +5.3% |
| North Tyneside | £2,461.77 | +5.4% |
| Darlington | £2,493.83 | +5.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Sunderland drops from £1,464.76 to £1,098.57.
- Council Tax Reduction: Sunderland 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).
Sunderland'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.
Sunderland raised Council Tax Support to 100% in 2025
Sunderland City Council moved working-age claimants to an income-banded Council Tax Support scheme on 1 April 2025. At the same time it raised the most anyone can get from 91.5% to 100% of the bill. Before the change, a working-age claimant in a Band A home always had to pay at least 8.5%. At today's rates that would be £124.50 a year in 2026/27. Now the lowest-income households pay nothing. Your band depends on net household income, and the first £25 a week of earnings is ignored. Your support only changes if your income moves you into a different band.
Sunderland makes no deduction from your support for other adults living with you. It ignores Child Benefit, child maintenance, War Pension, War Disablement Benefits, DLA, PIP, the housing element of Universal Credit and any UC transitional protection. Anyone on Income Support, income-based JSA or income-related ESA goes straight into Band 1.
The council has also partnered with Lightning Reach, an online service that links residents to more than 2,500 support schemes run by charities and other organisations.
| Support (weekly net income) | Single | Couple | Family, 1 child | Family, 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1: 100% | £0–£100 | £0–£155 | £0–£240 | £0–£325 |
| Band 2: 80% | £100.01–£160 | £155.01–£190 | £240.01–£305 | £325.01–£385 |
| Band 3: 60% | £160.01–£190 | £190.01–£225 | £305.01–£360 | £385.01–£445 |
| Band 4: 40% | £190.01–£260 | £225.01–£295 | £360.01–£420 | £445.01–£505 |
| Band 5: 20% | £260.01–£325 | £295.01–£355 | £420.01–£460 | £505.01–£560 |
Empty homes, second homes and holiday lets
Sunderland gives no discount on empty, unfurnished homes. The full charge applies for the first year, then 200% from one to five years, 300% from five to ten and 400% after ten. Second homes pay a 100% premium from the day they become empty, so a Band B second home pays £3,417.77 in 2026/27. Self-catering lets that meet the government's letting tests are moved by the Valuation Office Agency to business rates. The VOA picks them up from owners’ own reports and from information requests it sends every three years.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Sunderland?
£2,197.14 a year in 2026/27, or £219.71 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Sunderland?
Band A: 80,440 of 135,530 homes (59%). A Band A bill is £1,464.76 in 2026/27.
How much has Sunderland council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,092.79 to £2,197.14 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Sunderland?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,840.88; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.92; Police and crime commissioner £214.34; Fire and rescue authority £105.11; Parish/town council (average) £0.89 (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 Sunderland?
100% since 1 April 2025, for the lowest-income working-age households. It used to be 91.5%.
When does the second homes premium start in Sunderland?
From the day a furnished home stops being anyone’s main residence. There is no grace period.
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)
- Sunderland City Council – Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- Sunderland City Council – Empty properties or second homes
- Sunderland City Council – Self-catering properties