Household Bills
Council tax bills hiked by up to 15%
The average band D council tax in England for 2020/21 will rise by 4% but residents in Wales will see bills rise by up to 15%.
From 6 April, the average band D property in England (the standard measure of council tax) will see council tax bills rise 3.9% from £1,750 to £1,817.
In London, the average band D council tax will be £1,534 – an increase of £57, in metropolitan areas it will rise £70 to £1,809, in unitary areas it will rise £71 to £1,884 and in shire areas, bills will rise £70 to £1,896.
For residents in Wales, they’ll see council tax rise by a minimum of 8%, with those living in Pembrokeshire and Powys set to pay 15% more, taking bills to £1,445.22, according to analysis by Which?
Just last month, the government confirmed a near £50bn spending increase for councils, meaning council tax rises were expected to be at their lowest levels since 2016/17.
Struggling to pay council tax during coronavirus?
The government this week confirmed a £500m Hardship Fund will provide council tax relief to vulnerable people and households to help those affected by coronavirus.
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This money will go to local authorities in England to enable them to reduce the 2020/21 council tax bills of working age people receiving local council tax support.
The government has also confirmed councils will receive an additional £1.6bn in funding to enable them to respond to other Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including stepping up support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.
If you think you’re paying too much council tax, you may be able to challenge it. See MoneySavingExpert.com’s council tax reclaim and reband guide for more information.