Waltham Forest Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Waltham Forest is £2,386.96 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£109.31) on last year. That is £4.56 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 112th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (35%), so the average bill per home is about £2,164.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
Waltham Forest council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,591.31 | £159.13 | £132.61 | £1,193.48 | 5,250 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,856.52 | £185.65 | £154.71 | £1,392.39 | 32,850 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,121.74 | £212.17 | £176.81 | £1,591.31 | 39,510 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,386.96 | £238.70 | £198.91 | £1,790.22 | 23,470 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,917.40 | £291.74 | £243.12 | £2,188.05 | 8,390 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,447.83 | £344.78 | £287.32 | £2,585.87 | 1,850 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,978.27 | £397.83 | £331.52 | £2,983.70 | 440 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,773.92 | £477.39 | £397.83 | £3,580.44 | 30 |
- Waltham Forest
- England average
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Where your Waltham Forest council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Waltham Forest but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,386.96 Band D charge, £1,876.45 (79%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,840.71 | 77.1% | £1,636.19 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.74 | 1.5% | £31.77 |
| Greater London Authority | £510.51 | 21.4% | £453.79 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,841 77.1%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36 1.5%
- Greater London Authority £511 21.4%
Waltham Forest council tax history
Band D in Waltham Forest has risen from £1,474.18 in 2016/17 to £2,386.96 in 2026/27 — 62% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.1%, the 38th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Waltham Forest Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,386.96 | +4.8% | £2,121.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,277.65 | +4.8% | £2,024.58 |
| 2024/25 | £2,173.72 | +5.7% | £1,932.20 |
| 2023/24 | £2,055.55 | +6.0% | £1,827.16 |
| 2022/23 | £1,939.94 | +4.1% | £1,724.39 |
| 2021/22 | £1,863.17 | +5.8% | £1,656.15 |
| 2020/21 | £1,760.31 | +3.9% | £1,564.72 |
| 2019/20 | £1,693.95 | +4.9% | £1,505.73 |
| 2018/19 | £1,614.97 | +5.0% | £1,435.53 |
| 2017/18 | £1,537.99 | +4.3% | £1,367.10 |
| 2016/17 | £1,474.18 | – | £1,310.38 |
Homes by council tax band in Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest has 111,790 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 34% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,121.74 a year (£212.17 a month over 10 instalments).
Waltham Forest compared with London
Waltham Forest is the 28th cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£296.88 less than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Haringey | £2,313.78 | +4.8% |
| Bexley | £2,366.36 | +4.8% |
| Sutton | £2,378.64 | +4.8% |
| Waltham Forest | £2,386.96 | +4.8% |
| Havering | £2,424.66 | +4.8% |
| Richmond upon Thames | £2,486.10 | +4.8% |
| Harrow | £2,511.07 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Waltham Forest drops from £2,121.74 to £1,591.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Waltham Forest 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).
Waltham Forest's 4.8% 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.
Council Tax Support in Waltham Forest: 57% or 85%
Waltham Forest's working-age Council Tax Support is a banded scheme, and every working-age liable person pays at least 15% of their bill. If you rely entirely on state benefits, you get 57% off. "Financially vulnerable" households get 85%: those with a child under 6, or where at least one member cannot work because of a disability. Pensioners can still get up to 100%.
Worked example for 2026/27: on a Band C home, the borough's most common band (39,510 homes), the full bill is £2,121.74. A household on benefits only pays £912.35 after the 57% reduction. A financially vulnerable household pays £318.26. A Discretionary Council Tax Hardship Scheme can help with what is left.
People with earnings drop into lower bands as income rises. The 2026 bands below are the weekly income limits the council publishes; families with children have higher limits than those shown.
| Band | Support | Single (weekly income) | Couple (weekly income) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financially vulnerable | 85% | Less than £120.01 | Less than £140.01 |
| Band 1 | 57% | Less than £120.01 | Less than £140.01 |
| Band 2 | 47% | £120.01 to £170.00 | £140.01 to £190.00 |
| Band 3 | 37% | £170.01 to £210.00 | £190.01 to £230.00 |
| Band 4 | 27% | £210.01 to £250.00 | £230.01 to £270.00 |
| Band 5 | 17% | £250.01 to £290.00 | £270.01 to £310.00 |
Second homes premium after one year, and payment dates
Waltham Forest gives no reduction for second homes. Unlike many councils, it charges the 100% second homes premium only once a year has passed since the property first became empty of a permanent resident. The premium stays until the home is let, sold or occupied. Empty, unfurnished homes pay 200% after one year, 300% after five and 400% after ten.
Instalments are due on the 1st of the month, over 10 or 12 months, or you can pay every two weeks. You can ask to move your date to the 9th or 25th using the online Council Tax Enquiry Form. PayPoint payments should be made at least seven days before the due date.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Waltham Forest?
£2,386.96 a year in 2026/27, or £238.70 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Waltham Forest?
Band C: 39,510 of 111,790 homes (35%). A Band C bill is £2,121.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Waltham Forest council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,277.65 to £2,386.96 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 62%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Waltham Forest?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,840.71; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.74; Greater London Authority £510.51 (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 Waltham Forest?
85% for financially vulnerable working-age households (a child under 6, or a member who cannot work due to disability), and 57% for others relying entirely on benefits. Pensioners can get up to 100%.
When does the second homes premium start in Waltham Forest?
One year after the property first became empty of a permanent resident. It is a 100% premium, so the bill doubles.
Can I change my council tax payment date in Waltham Forest?
Yes. Instalments are normally due on the 1st, but you can switch to the 9th or 25th.
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)
- Waltham Forest Council – Eligibility for Council Tax Support
- Waltham Forest Council – Empty properties, second homes and empty home reviews
- Waltham Forest Council – Pay your Council Tax