Council tax in the South East 2026/27
Across the 64 councils in the South East, the middle Band D bill is £2,489.07 for 2026/27. The cheapest is Windsor and Maidenhead at £1,952.62 and the most expensive Lewes at £2,756.17.
What changed for 2026/27
The biggest rise in the South East was in Windsor and Maidenhead (7.1%), and the smallest in Tonbridge and Malling (4.1%). Most English councils can raise council tax by up to 4.99% a year without a local referendum; a few were allowed more in 2026/27.
Council tax in the South East at a glance
The South East has 64 councils that set council tax: 51 shire districts, 13 unitary councils. 48 of them charge more than the England average Band D of £2,391.52 and 16 charge less. Across 4,201,530 homes, the most common band is C, and 25% of homes are in band A or B. 51% are below Band D, so most households pay less than the Band D figure.
In two-tier areas the district collects the bill but the county council's share is usually the biggest part, with police and fire on top. In 49 of the councils, parish or town councils add their own charge, shown on each council's page.
Every council in the South East
| Council | Band D a year | A month (10) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adur | £2,548.28 | £254.83 | +4.8% |
| Arun | £2,487.24 | £248.72 | +4.9% |
| Ashford | £2,410.16 | £241.02 | +4.3% |
| Basingstoke and Deane | £2,255.21 | £225.52 | +5.0% |
| Bracknell Forest | £2,264.80 | £226.48 | +5.1% |
| Brighton and Hove | £2,580.54 | £258.05 | +5.0% |
| Buckinghamshire | £2,526.58 | £252.66 | +5.2% |
| Canterbury | £2,419.33 | £241.93 | +4.2% |
| Cherwell | £2,582.96 | £258.30 | +4.8% |
| Chichester | £2,469.68 | £246.97 | +5.3% |
| Crawley | £2,418.46 | £241.85 | +4.8% |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 | £237.52 | +4.2% |
| Dover | £2,461.74 | £246.17 | +4.1% |
| East Hampshire | £2,343.92 | £234.39 | +5.0% |
| Eastbourne | £2,654.28 | £265.43 | +4.8% |
| Eastleigh | £2,342.21 | £234.22 | +5.1% |
| Elmbridge | £2,557.75 | £255.78 | +4.7% |
| Epsom and Ewell | £2,530.84 | £253.08 | +4.7% |
| Fareham | £2,270.55 | £227.06 | +4.9% |
| Folkestone and Hythe | £2,538.75 | £253.88 | +4.2% |
| Gosport | £2,344.29 | £234.43 | +4.8% |
| Gravesham | £2,408.24 | £240.82 | +4.1% |
| Guildford | £2,547.30 | £254.73 | +4.9% |
| Hart | £2,400.02 | £240.00 | +5.0% |
| Hastings | £2,676.58 | £267.66 | +4.8% |
| Havant | £2,320.28 | £232.03 | +4.8% |
| Horsham | £2,441.01 | £244.10 | +5.2% |
| Isle of Wight | £2,625.79 | £262.58 | +5.3% |
| Lewes | £2,756.17 | £275.62 | +4.9% |
| Maidstone | £2,502.59 | £250.26 | +4.1% |
| Medway | £2,328.55 | £232.86 | +5.1% |
| Mid Sussex | £2,474.26 | £247.43 | +5.0% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | £237.22 | +5.1% |
| Mole Valley | £2,519.86 | £251.99 | +4.7% |
| New Forest | £2,419.76 | £241.98 | +5.0% |
| Oxford | £2,678.40 | £267.84 | +4.7% |
| Portsmouth | £2,291.71 | £229.17 | +5.1% |
| Reading | £2,612.77 | £261.28 | +5.0% |
| Reigate and Banstead | £2,566.61 | £256.66 | +4.4% |
| Rother | £2,700.95 | £270.09 | +5.5% |
| Runnymede | £2,492.99 | £249.30 | +4.7% |
| Rushmoor | £2,320.28 | £232.03 | +4.9% |
| Sevenoaks | £2,522.36 | £252.24 | +4.3% |
| Slough | £2,414.44 | £241.44 | +5.0% |
| South Oxfordshire | £2,597.57 | £259.76 | +5.0% |
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | £238.15 | +5.1% |
| Spelthorne | £2,526.44 | £252.64 | +4.7% |
| Surrey Heath | £2,585.16 | £258.52 | +4.8% |
| Swale | £2,405.65 | £240.57 | +4.3% |
| Tandridge | £2,594.85 | £259.49 | +5.0% |
| Test Valley | £2,305.52 | £230.55 | +5.0% |
| Thanet | £2,490.90 | £249.09 | +4.2% |
| Tonbridge and Malling | £2,471.83 | £247.18 | +4.1% |
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 | £244.62 | +4.2% |
| Vale of White Horse | £2,577.44 | £257.74 | +4.9% |
| Waverley | £2,604.87 | £260.49 | +4.9% |
| Wealden | £2,728.43 | £272.84 | +4.6% |
| West Berkshire | £2,505.37 | £250.54 | +5.1% |
| West Oxfordshire | £2,566.95 | £256.70 | +5.0% |
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | £235.98 | +4.8% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | £1,952.62 | £195.26 | +7.1% |
| Woking | £2,598.04 | £259.80 | +4.7% |
| Wokingham | £2,497.70 | £249.77 | +5.1% |
| Worthing | £2,456.13 | £245.61 | +4.8% |
Questions
Which council has the lowest council tax in the South East?
Windsor and Maidenhead, where Band D is £1,952.62 a year in 2026/27.
Which council has the highest council tax in the South East?
Lewes, at £2,756.17 for Band D in 2026/27.
What is the most common council tax band in the South East?
Band C: 26% of the 4,201,530 homes. 25% are in band A or B.
Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 25 March 2026. Band D including average parish precepts.