Waltham Forest Council Tax Bands and Rates 2026/27: What Every Band Pays
2026/27 Rates by Band
Waltham Forest council tax for 2026/27 includes the borough's own charge plus the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept. The total amount depends on your property's valuation band — set by the Valuation Office Agency based on what the property would have sold for on 1 April 1991.
Here's the full table:
| Band | 1991 property value | Annual charge | Weekly equivalent | With 25% single person discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,591.31 | £30.52 | £1,193.48 (£22.89/wk) |
| B | £40,001–£52,000 | £1,856.52 | £35.60 | £1,392.39 (£26.70/wk) |
| C | £52,001–£68,000 | £2,121.74 | £40.70 | £1,591.31 (£30.52/wk) |
| D | £68,001–£88,000 | £2,386.96 | £45.77 | £1,790.22 (£34.33/wk) |
| E | £88,001–£120,000 | £2,917.40 | £55.95 | £2,188.05 (£41.96/wk) |
| F | £120,001–£160,000 | £3,447.83 | £66.13 | £2,585.87 (£49.60/wk) |
| G | £160,001–£320,000 | £3,978.27 | £76.30 | £2,983.70 (£57.22/wk) |
| H | Over £320,000 | £4,773.92 | £91.56 | £3,580.44 (£68.67/wk) |
Band D — the reference band councils use for comparisons — comes to £2,386.96 per year or £45.77 per week.
How the Bill Breaks Down
Your total bill combines two charges: the Waltham Forest borough element and the GLA precept (which funds the Mayor of London's services including the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, and the London Fire Brigade). You can't opt out of either. The combined figure is what appears on your demand notice each March.
The 2026/27 rates reflect a 4.99% increase over the previous year — 2.99% for the general rate plus 2.00% for the adult social care precept.
Discounts That Apply Before Support
Two statutory discounts reduce your bill before Council Tax Support is calculated:
Single person discount (25%) applies if you're the only adult living in the property. Adults who are "disregarded" for council tax purposes — full-time students, people who are severely mentally impaired, live-in carers — don't count toward the adult headcount.
Disabled band reduction allows a property adapted for a disabled resident to be charged at the rate of the next lower band. A Band D property drops to the Band C rate. This needs a separate application showing the adaptations (extra room for wheelchair, ground-floor bathroom, etc.).
These discounts stack. A disabled single person in a Band D property gets the disabled band reduction (Band C rate of £2,121.74) and then the 25% single person discount, bringing the annual bill to £1,591.31 before any Council Tax Support.
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What Council Tax Support Does to These Numbers
Council Tax Support is calculated on the bill after discounts. A single person in a Band C property (£30.52/wk after SPD) receiving Band 1 support (57%) pays £13.12 per week. A vulnerable household getting 85% pays just £4.58.
The lower your property band, the lower the residual bill even after the same percentage support. This is why Band A and Band B properties in Waltham Forest produce the most affordable outcomes for CTS claimants.
Checking Your Band
Your property band is printed on the council tax bill and appears on the VOA website. Most properties in Waltham Forest fall in Bands B through E. If you believe your band is wrong — maybe comparable houses on your street are in a lower band, or there's been a significant change to the property since 1991 — you can challenge it directly with the VOA at no cost.
Be aware that a challenge can result in a band going up as well as down. The VOA doesn't only review your property — neighbouring properties can be reassessed too.
For a complete breakdown of how Council Tax Support interacts with your band and discounts, including worked examples for common household types, see our Waltham Forest Council Tax Reduction guide.
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