Newham Council Tax Bands and Rates 2026/27
Newham's council tax bills for 2026/27 jumped by 8.99% — the maximum the government allowed after approving an exceptional increase for the borough. The rise was driven by a £157 million budget deficit, largely from temporary housing and social care costs. Here are the actual numbers for every band.
2026/27 Annual Charges by Band
| Band | Annual Charge |
|---|---|
| A | £1,296.15 |
| B | £1,512.18 |
| C | £1,728.20 |
| D | £1,944.23 |
| E | £2,376.28 |
| F | £2,808.33 |
| G | £3,240.38 |
| H | £3,888.46 |
These are the full charges before any discounts. If you live alone, the 25% single person discount brings a Band C bill down from £1,728.20 to £1,296.15. If you receive Council Tax Reduction, the maximum working-age award covers 70% of your net liability after discounts.
Why the 8.99% Increase
Most English councils are capped at a 5% increase (2% general plus 3% social care precept). Newham applied to the government for permission to exceed this cap through an exceptional increase, citing:
- A structural budget deficit driven by temporary accommodation costs
- Rising demand for social care and children's services
- Limited scope to cut frontline services further
The government approved the 8.99% figure. It applies to the Newham element of the bill — the Greater London Authority precept (for the Mayor of London, police, fire, and TfL) is a separate charge calculated on top.
How Bands Work
Council tax bands are based on what the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) estimated your property was worth on 1 April 1991. The bands have not been revalued since, so even properties built recently are assigned a band based on a 1991 estimate.
| Band | 1991 Valuation Range |
|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 |
| H | Over £320,000 |
Most properties in Newham fall in Bands A to D. The borough's housing stock is dominated by terraced houses and flats that were valued modestly in 1991, even if current market prices are far higher.
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If Your Band Looks Wrong
You can check your property's band on the VOA website for free. If you believe it is wrong — for example, if similar neighbouring properties are in a lower band — you can challenge it through the VOA at no cost. This is a separate process from Council Tax Reduction and is handled by the Valuation Office Agency, not by Newham Council.
Be aware that a band challenge can result in the band going up as well as down. The VOA reassesses the property fresh, and if they conclude the 1991 value was actually higher, your band increases along with your bill.
What This Means for Council Tax Reduction
The 8.99% increase directly affects how much you pay even with a full CTR award. The council's scheme covers up to 70% of the net bill — the remaining 30% is your minimum contribution.
For a Band C property with the single person discount, the weekly minimum contribution works out to £7.48. A year ago, before the increase and the cap change, the minimum was significantly lower.
If the 30% minimum is unaffordable, there are two routes: Section 13A hardship relief for exceptional cases, and free debt advice from StepChange or National Debtline if you are already behind.
Our Newham Council Tax Reduction guide includes worked calculations for every band showing exactly how much CTR you would receive at different income levels, so you can see what the 2026/27 figures mean for your household.
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