In April, the majority of local authorities increased their council tax by the maximum of 4.99 per cent, while some councils were granted special dispensation to hike bills by even more than this.
square WEDDINGS I’ve spent over £10k celebrating friends’ weddings abroad - and have no regrets
Read More
The sweeping increases in April came amid a wider funding crisis, with a quarter of councils warning last year that they would need emergency government bailouts to avoid bankruptcy over the next two years.
The average band D council tax bill across England is now £2,280 for the 2025-26 tax year, according to government data – an increase of £109 from £2,171 in 2024-25.
A Band D home in Westminster will pay just £1,017.18 council tax this year, meaning 294 of 296 billing authorities in England will pay more.
There are 13 local authorities with a council tax bill of less than £2,000 this year, and all but two of those are London boroughs, government data shows.
Council tax has been branded unfair by a number of property experts because wealthier households can end up paying far less than poorer ones.
Residents with a Band D home in Sunderland, where average property prices are £140,000 – £800,000 less than a typical home in Westminster – pay £2,081.93 council tax this year, almost £1,000 more than people living in Westminster.
This is because while property prices in an area might be lower, the cost to the council to upkeep infrastructure can be similar across the country.
Your next read
square WEDDINGSI’ve spent over £10k celebrating friends’ weddings abroad – and have no regrets
square SMALL BUSINESSMy business costs rose by £48k thanks to NI and wage hikes – I’ve had to cut staff
square INFLATIONInflation and interest rates have stayed high. How can I protect my money?
square MONEYJuly 2025 DWP payment dates for benefits and pensions, in full
There is also the issue of how properties are currently valued for council tax purposes.
Joanne Walker, technical officer at the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, explained: “This results in some oddities, as different properties have increased in value at different rates since 1991 (or 2003 in Wales), meaning that if all properties were revalued, many properties would be in different bands.
You can challenge your council tax band if you do not think that it is fair, for example, if you have a neighbour in a similar-sized property that is in a cheaper council tax band.
Collect evidence to support your case and then apply either online, by email or by post.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The 294 areas in England paying more council tax than Westminster )
Also on site :