Kensington and Chelsea's 2026/27 Band D council tax is £1,666.65 — the lowest in England. That's well below the English average of £2,392.
Last updated: April 2026 · Sources: VOA, MHCLG, Kensington and Chelsea CouncilAnnual and monthly rates for every council tax band in Kensington and Chelsea for 2026/27, sourced directly from Kensington and Chelsea Council's published schedule.
| Band | Annual | Per month (×12) |
|---|---|---|
| ABand A | £1,111.10 | £92.59 |
| BBand B | £1,296.28 | £108.02 |
| CBand C | £1,481.47 | £123.46 |
| DBand D | £1,666.65 | £138.89 |
| EBand E | £2,037.02 | £169.75 |
| FBand F | £2,407.38 | £200.62 |
| GBand G | £2,777.75 | £231.48 |
| HBand H | £3,333.30 | £277.78 |
The Band D bill of £1,666.65 is split between 1 authorities, each funding different services. Here's how it breaks down.
Kensington and Chelsea's council tax has multiple components: the council itself (including any adult social care precept where applicable), the Police and Crime Commissioner precept, the fire and rescue precept where set separately, and where applicable a parish or town council precept. Each is set independently and shown on your bill.
For 2026/27, Kensington and Chelsea set its rates in line with the standard April process, which for adult social care authorities allows a maximum rise of 4.99% without a referendum.
out of 296 English councils. Kensington and Chelsea's £1,666.65 Band D rate is the lowest in England for 2026/27.
For decades Kensington and Chelsea held a reputation that felt almost mythological in English terms — a place where you could own a Band D property and still pay three figures on your annual council tax bill. That era ended in 2026: the bill now stands at £1,666.65. Before you assume the borough's "low-tax" identity is finished, look at the national picture. The average Band D bill across England sits at £2,392. Kensington and Chelsea residents still pay less than half that.
Here's what most coverage gets wrong: Kensington and Chelsea Council didn't raise its core services budget at all this year. For the it froze that element. The None% rise in the headline figure comes from two places — the 2% adult social care precept (which all social care authorities apply) and the GLA's 4.1% increase on its London-wide precept. So while the bill has gone up, none of the increase is going to fund Kensington and Chelsea's own services.
Kensington and Chelsea offers a range of council tax discounts, exemptions, and reductions for 2026/27. Most need to be claimed — councils don't apply them automatically. Below are the discounts available, with the rules specific to Kensington and Chelsea.
25% reduction if you are the only adult in your household. On a Band D property, this is a saving of £416.66 a year. On a Band D property, this is a saving of £416.66 a year.
Kensington and Chelsea runs its own Council Tax Reduction scheme for low-income households. The exact level of support depends on the council's scheme rules — pension-age applicants follow national rules and can receive up to 100% reduction; working-age applicants are means-tested. Apply through the council's website.
Full-time students are disregarded; an all-student household is fully exempt.
Property bill reduced to the band below if it has been adapted for a disabled resident.
Severely mentally impaired residents are disregarded for council tax purposes.
Discount available for care leavers up to age 25, subject to eligibility.
Kensington and Chelsea applies an empty property premium starting 12 months after the property becomes unoccupied and substantially unfurnished. The premium is staggered:
Long-term empty premium typically applies after 12 months. Tiered increases apply for properties empty 5+ and 10+ years.
From April 2025, English councils may apply a 100% premium on furnished second homes — most have adopted this. For a Band D second home, this means an annual bill of £3,333.30 rather than the standard £1,666.65.
Kensington and Chelsea accepts payment via a range of methods. The default is 10 monthly Direct Debit instalments from April to January, with a 12-month plan available on request.
Rates and precept information for Kensington and Chelsea are sourced directly from Kensington and Chelsea Council's published 2026/27 schedule, and verified against the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's annual statistical release.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Next refresh due: 2027-04-15, when Kensington and Chelsea Council publishes its 2027/28 schedule.