Wealden Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Wealden is £2,728.43 for 2026/27, up 4.6% (£119.99) on last year. That is £336.91 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 292nd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (24%), so the average bill per home is about £2,973.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Wealden council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,818.95 | £181.90 | £151.58 | £1,364.22 | 4,420 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,122.11 | £212.21 | £176.84 | £1,591.58 | 8,690 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,425.27 | £242.53 | £202.11 | £1,818.95 | 18,100 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,728.43 | £272.84 | £227.37 | £2,046.32 | 16,420 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,334.75 | £333.47 | £277.90 | £2,501.06 | 12,290 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,941.07 | £394.11 | £328.42 | £2,955.80 | 8,220 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,547.38 | £454.74 | £378.95 | £3,410.54 | 7,410 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,456.86 | £545.69 | £454.74 | £4,092.64 | 950 |
- Wealden
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Wealden council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Wealden but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,728.43 Band D charge, £221.14 (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 | £221.14 | 8.1% | £196.57 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,960.29 | 71.8% | £1,742.48 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 10.3% | £250.59 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £117.49 | 4.3% | £104.44 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £147.60 | 5.4% | £131.20 |
- District council £221 8.1%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960 71.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 10.3%
- Fire and rescue authority £117 4.3%
- Parish/town council (average) £148 5.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Wealden; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Wealden council tax history
Band D in Wealden has risen from £1,758.19 in 2016/17 to £2,728.43 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.2%, the 94th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Wealden Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,728.43 | +4.6% | £2,425.27 |
| 2025/26 | £2,608.44 | +5.0% | £2,318.61 |
| 2024/25 | £2,484.03 | +5.1% | £2,208.03 |
| 2023/24 | £2,363.03 | +4.9% | £2,100.47 |
| 2022/23 | £2,252.09 | +4.1% | £2,001.86 |
| 2021/22 | £2,162.69 | +3.4% | £1,922.39 |
| 2020/21 | £2,091.34 | +4.0% | £1,858.97 |
| 2019/20 | £2,011.51 | +4.0% | £1,788.01 |
| 2018/19 | £1,934.98 | +5.5% | £1,719.98 |
| 2017/18 | £1,833.59 | +4.3% | £1,629.86 |
| 2016/17 | £1,758.19 | – | £1,562.84 |
Homes by council tax band in Wealden
Wealden has 76,500 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 17% 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 C, which costs £2,425.27 a year (£242.53 a month over 10 instalments).
Wealden compared with South East
Wealden is the 63rd cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£252.98 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hastings | £2,676.58 | +4.8% |
| Oxford | £2,678.40 | +4.7% |
| Rother | £2,700.95 | +5.5% |
| Wealden | £2,728.43 | +4.6% |
| Lewes | £2,756.17 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Wealden drops from £2,425.27 to £1,818.95.
- Council Tax Reduction: Wealden 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).
Wealden's 4.6% 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.
Wealden's banded Council Tax Reduction
Wealden District Council has run a banded working-age Council Tax Reduction scheme since 1 April 2019. Depending on income and household size, it covers 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% or nothing. For 2026/27 the scheme is unchanged apart from inflation increases to the income bands.
- Savings over £6,000 rule out working-age claims.
- For Universal Credit claimants, the council counts the standard and child elements but not the carer or childcare elements, and takes £25 off earnings.
- From 1 April 2026 a Terminal Illness Policy lets the council use section 13A to top a Council Tax Reduction award up to 100%, where an accepted SR1 form shows the liable person, their partner or a dependant is terminally ill.
| Reduction | Single (weekly income) | Couple | Family + 1 child | Family + 2 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0 to £110.03 | £0 to £162.50 | £0 to £227.75 | £0 to £291.72 |
| 80% | £110.04 to £175.27 | £162.51 to £227.75 | £227.76 to £291.72 | £291.73 to £356.97 |
| 60% | £175.28 to £240.55 | £227.76 to £291.72 | £291.73 to £356.97 | £356.98 to £422.24 |
| 40% | £240.56 to £307.07 | £291.73 to £344.19 | £356.98 to £422.24 | £422.25 to £487.50 |
Where Wealden council tax goes, and premiums
Wealden District Council keeps about 8% of your bill. East Sussex County Council gets 72%, Sussex Police 10%, East Sussex Fire 4% and parishes 6%. At Band D the district's share is £221.14 and the average parish precept is £147.60, the second-highest average parish precept of any South East council after Lewes.
On 21 February 2024 the council agreed a 100% premium on homes empty for one to five years, rising to 200% after five years and 300% after ten, plus a 100% premium on second homes from April 2025. A Band D second home pays £5,456.86 in 2026/27. Changes of owner do not reset the empty period.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Wealden?
£2,728.43 a year in 2026/27, or £272.84 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Wealden?
Band C: 18,100 of 76,500 homes (24%). A Band C bill is £2,425.27 in 2026/27.
How much has Wealden council tax gone up?
4.6% this year, from £2,608.44 to £2,728.43 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Wealden?
District council £221.14; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,960.29; Police and crime commissioner £281.91; Fire and rescue authority £117.49; Parish/town council (average) £147.60 (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 Reduction in Wealden?
100% for working-age households in the lowest income band, such as a single person on up to £110.03 a week.
How much of my Wealden bill goes to the district council?
About 8%. East Sussex County Council receives about 72%.
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)
- Wealden District Council – Who can get Council Tax Reduction
- Wealden District Council – Second home and long-term empty property premiums
- Wealden District Council – Your Council Tax 2026 to 2027
- Wealden District Council – Discretionary reduction (Section 13A)