Ranked: The London boroughs that will see the biggest increase in Council Tax bills
Google Trends data shows that in the first few months of 2022, searches relating to council tax bills are the highest they’ve been in five years.
However, this increase is no surprise, with virtually every single local council increasing annual council tax in the past year, with the average band D property rising by around £67.
London-based Estate Agents Douglas & Gordon have looked at what areas of the country are the most and least expensive for council tax and have also looked at what places in the UK are expected to see a rise in council tax.
Despite the capital being home to one of the most expensive properties in the UK, London boroughs such as Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham have some of the lowest council tax rates in the country, with the average monthly cost amounting to £136. This is primarily due to local councils gaining revenue from other sources.
Rutland in the East Midlands is seeing the highest amount of council tax being paid, with the average monthly cost amounting to £183 a month, adding up to a whopping £2,195 annually.
Areas with the highest council tax:
| County | Avg. monthly cost | Annual cost* |
| Rutland | £183 | £2,195 |
| East Sussex | £179 | £2,144 |
| Nottinghamshire | £178 | £2,134 |
| Durham | £173 | £2,075 |
| Devon | £172 | £2,068 |
Areas with the lowest council tax:
| County | Avg. monthly cost | Annual cost* |
| Greater London | £136 | £1,633 |
| West Midlands | £144 | £1,730 |
| Berkshire | £154 | £1,847 |
| Hampshire | £156 | £1,867 |
| Essex | £156 | £1,870 |
*Average Council Tax per annum for a Band D property
Wiltshire and Greater Manchester have seen the highest council tax increase.
Last year London council tax increased more than anywhere else, but the story spread over the previous few years is quite different. Since 2015, council tax for the City of London has only increased by 11.2%, while Wiltshire and Greater Manchester have seen a 36.9% and 32.4% increase.
Meaning the average Londoner has paid an average of £1,461 per year since 2015, while those in Greater Manchester paid £1,727. This results in the average Londoner saving £2,128 in council tax since 2015 compared to the average Mancunian.
Three ways to reduce your council tax:
- Spread the cost: annual council tax payments are typically spread across ten months, but you can request that they spread across 12 months, lowering the monthly repayments.
- Apply for a reduction: depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a discount on your council tax bill.
- Check your council tax band: if you think your property has been put into the wrong band, you can challenge it with your local council.
Kindly shared by Douglas & Gordon
Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay
