Council Tax · 2025/26
Council Tax Band H — What You Pay in 2025/26
Band H properties pay roughly £4,560.00 per year on average in England for 2025/26 — about £380.00 a month. Your exact bill depends on your local authority, police and fire precepts, and any parish charges.
What does Band H mean?
Council Tax bands are assigned by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England based on what the property would have sold for on 1 April 1991. In Wales, bands were re-set using 1 April 2003 values by the Welsh Government. Scotland uses 1991 values for its own banding system.
| England (1991 value) | Over £320,000 |
| Wales (2003 value) | £324,001 – £424,000 |
| Statutory ratio (Band D = 1.00) | 2.00 |
Average figures use a Band D England average of £2,280.00 and Wales £2,170.00 for 2025/26, scaled by the statutory band ratio.
How your band is set
The VOA assigns bands automatically based on the original sale price, size, layout and location of the property at the valuation date. New-build homes are banded once completed. If you think your home is in the wrong band, you can:
- Check neighbouring properties on the VOA online register — bands should be consistent on similar homes.
- Submit a free band review request to the VOA (England) or the Welsh VOA — you cannot use a paid service to do this.
- Appeal within 6 months of becoming a new occupier, or any time if you believe the value has materially changed.
Discounts and reductions
- Single-person discount: 25% off if you are the only adult in the property.
- Full-time student household: 100% exemption.
- Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) disregard: 25% off if the only other adult qualifies; 100% if living alone.
- Council Tax Reduction (CTR): means-tested support administered by your local council — up to 100% off depending on income, savings and household.
- Empty property exemptions: some councils give short discounts for properties undergoing major repair; others charge a premium for long-term empty homes.