Waverley Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Waverley is £2,604.87 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£121.02) on last year. That is £213.35 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 266th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (24%), so the average bill per home is about £3,117.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Waverley council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,736.58 | £173.66 | £144.72 | £1,302.44 | 1,040 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,026.01 | £202.60 | £168.83 | £1,519.51 | 3,510 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,315.44 | £231.54 | £192.95 | £1,736.58 | 11,020 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,604.87 | £260.49 | £217.07 | £1,953.65 | 13,710 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,183.73 | £318.37 | £265.31 | £2,387.80 | 10,160 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,762.59 | £376.26 | £313.55 | £2,821.94 | 7,430 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,341.45 | £434.15 | £361.79 | £3,256.09 | 9,010 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,209.74 | £520.97 | £434.15 | £3,907.31 | 2,200 |
- Waverley
- England average
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Where your Waverley council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Waverley but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,604.87 Band D charge, £220.25 (8%) 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 | £220.25 | 8.5% | £220.25 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,938.42 | 74.4% | £1,938.42 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £352.57 | 13.5% | £352.57 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £93.63 | 3.6% | £93.63 |
- District council £220 8.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938 74.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £353 13.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £94 3.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Waverley; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Waverley council tax history
Band D in Waverley has risen from £1,706.87 in 2016/17 to £2,604.87 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.5%, the 170th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Waverley Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,604.87 | +4.9% | £2,604.87 |
| 2025/26 | £2,483.85 | +4.8% | £2,483.85 |
| 2024/25 | £2,371.10 | +4.8% | £2,371.10 |
| 2023/24 | £2,262.78 | +3.4% | £2,262.78 |
| 2022/23 | £2,188.14 | +4.6% | £2,188.14 |
| 2021/22 | £2,091.45 | +3.0% | £2,091.45 |
| 2020/21 | £2,031.46 | +3.8% | £2,031.46 |
| 2019/20 | £1,956.16 | +3.9% | £1,956.16 |
| 2018/19 | £1,882.65 | +5.6% | £1,882.65 |
| 2017/18 | £1,782.30 | +4.4% | £1,782.30 |
| 2016/17 | £1,706.87 | – | £1,706.87 |
Homes by council tax band in Waverley
Waverley has 58,080 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 8% 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 £2,604.87 a year (£260.49 a month over 10 instalments).
Waverley compared with South East
Waverley is the 56th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£129.42 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Tandridge | £2,594.85 | +5% |
| South Oxfordshire | £2,597.57 | +5% |
| Woking | £2,598.04 | +4.7% |
| Waverley | £2,604.87 | +4.9% |
| Reading | £2,612.77 | +5.1% |
| Isle of Wight | £2,625.79 | +5.3% |
| Eastbourne | £2,654.28 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Waverley drops from £2,604.87 to £1,953.65.
- Council Tax Reduction: Waverley 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).
Waverley'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.
Waverley parish charges for 2026/27
Waverley's average Band D is £2,604.87, but every home pays its own parish or town rate. In 2026/27 the cheapest Band D is in Peper Harow (£2,516.37) and the dearest is in Godalming (£2,643.33). That is a gap of about £127 a year for the same band. Waverley has an unusually high share of large homes: 9,010 in Band G and 2,200 in Band H.
| Parish or town | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Peper Harow | £2,516.37 |
| Dockenfield | £2,540.99 |
| Haslemere Town | £2,578.79 |
| Alfold | £2,595.04 |
| Farnham Town | £2,602.91 |
| Cranleigh | £2,613.75 |
| Dunsfold | £2,637.58 |
| Godalming Town | £2,643.33 |
Second homes, empty homes and local government reorganisation
Waverley started charging a 100% second homes premium on 1 April 2026, so a Band G second home in Farnham now pays twice the normal Band G bill. At the borough average, that is £8,682.90 rather than £4,341.45. An unoccupied annexe may get 50% off. Empty, unfurnished homes get 50% off for their first month and then pay the standard charge. A 100% premium applies after one year (since 1 April 2025), 200% after five years and 300% after ten, counted from the date the home first became empty.
The council's website says new East Surrey and West Surrey councils launch in April 2027, as part of Surrey's local government reorganisation, so the charges and discounts above are Waverley's own for 2026/27. Direct Debit payers can choose between two dates each month, and joint accounts that need both signatures must use a paper mandate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Waverley?
£2,604.87 a year in 2026/27, or £260.49 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Waverley?
Band D: 13,710 of 58,080 homes (24%). A Band D bill is £2,604.87 in 2026/27.
How much has Waverley council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,483.85 to £2,604.87 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Waverley?
District council £220.25; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938.42; Police and crime commissioner £352.57; Parish/town council (average) £93.63 (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.
Which Waverley parish has the highest council tax?
Godalming Town, at £2,643.33 for Band D in 2026/27. Peper Harow is the lowest at £2,516.37.
Does Waverley charge a second homes premium?
Yes, from 1 April 2026. Second homes pay 200% unless a statutory exception applies, such as being actively marketed for sale or let.
Is there an empty home discount in Waverley?
Yes, 50% for the first month an unfurnished property is empty. After that the standard charge applies, and a premium starts after one year.
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)
- Waverley Borough Council – Council Tax charges 2026 to 2027
- Waverley Borough Council – Second homes, annexes and Council Tax
- Waverley Borough Council – Empty property discounts and premiums
- Waverley Borough Council – Pay and manage your Council Tax