Leicester City Council Tax Calculator Bands & Rates: 2026/27
Calculate your exact Leicester council tax bill for 2026/27. Band D is £2,528.75, following a confirmed 5% increase (3% core plus 2% Adult Social Care). Includes Leicestershire Police, the Combined Fire Authority, and the 25% single person discount.
Your Estimated Total Bill (2026/27)—
Leicester Council Tax 2026/27: A Confirmed 5% Increase
Leicester City Council's official 2026/27 council tax schedule confirms Band D at £2,528.75, made up of three separate precepts: £2,121.87 to Leicester City Council, £315.23 to the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, and £91.65 to the Combined Fire Authority. In the covering letter sent with bills, the council states plainly that it is "increasing its tax this year by 5% (2% is to support adult social care)" — one of the few councils to state the figure as a round 5% rather than the more commonly quoted 4.99%.
Leicester is a unitary authority, so — like Nottingham — there is no separate county council precept. Unlike Nottingham, however, Leicester's three-precept structure (city, police, fire) is broadly typical of other East Midlands unitary cities, and the council has been candid that this increase continues a long run of maximum permitted rises driven by reduced central government funding and rising demand for adult social care and homelessness services.
Band D 2026/27
£2,528.75
Confirmed official rate
Monthly (10 payments)
£252.88
Standard direct debit plan
2026/27 increase
5%
3% core + 2% Adult Social Care
Authority type
Unitary
No county council precept
All figures on this page are taken directly from Leicester City Council's published 2026/27 charges. Other bands are not simple proportions of a single combined rate — each precepting authority (city, police, fire) sets and rounds its own band charges separately before they are summed, which is why the totals don't divide perfectly into ninths.
Leicester Council Tax Bands A–H: Official 2026/27 Rate Table
These are the published charges for every band, taken directly from Leicester City Council's council tax pages. Your band reflects your property's estimated market value on 1 April 1991 — not its current value. Leicester's terraced housing stock, particularly in the inner suburbs, means Bands A and B cover a large share of the city's properties.
Band
Property value (1991)
Annual rate (2026/27)
Monthly (10)
Monthly (12)
A
Up to £40,000
£1,685.83
£168.58
£140.49
B
£40,001 – £52,000
£1,966.81
£196.68
£163.90
C
£52,001 – £68,000
£2,247.78
£224.78
£187.32
D
£68,001 – £88,000
£2,528.75
£252.88
£210.73
E
£88,001 – £120,000
£3,090.70
£309.07
£257.56
F
£120,001 – £160,000
£3,652.65
£365.27
£304.39
G
£160,001 – £320,000
£4,214.58
£421.46
£351.22
H
Over £320,000
£5,057.58
£505.76
£421.47
Band A is highlighted as the most common band across Leicester's inner suburbs (Highfields, Spinney Hills, North Evington). Band D is highlighted as the statutory reference rate used for national comparisons. The figures include Leicester City Council, Leicestershire Police, and the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Combined Fire Authority, but exclude any parish precept (the city itself has no parish precepts).
Context: how close did Leicester come to following Nottingham's example?
To understand why Leicester's council tax has risen by the maximum (or near-maximum) permitted amount for several consecutive years, it helps to look back to the 2024/25 budget. At that time, the council faced an expected budget gap of £61 million, plugged using £53.9 million of reserves plus £15 million from an emergency account — leaving just £7.9 million in reserve and a further £78 million shortfall predicted for 2025/26.
The city's mayor explicitly framed the 2024/25 budget as having avoided the kind of effective bankruptcy declaration Nottingham City Council made in November 2023 — see our Nottingham Council Tax 2026/27 guide for how that crisis has played out there, including Nottingham's first sub-maximum increase in 18 years for 2026/27. Leicester, by contrast, has continued with maximum or near-maximum rises through 2026/27, with the council's own letter describing this as a continuation of its existing budget strategy rather than a change of course.
The practical implication for Leicester residents: given the depth of the reserves drawdown in 2024/25 and the £78m shortfall projected for 2025/26, near-maximum increases are likely to remain the council's default position for the foreseeable future. Budgeting for continued ~5% annual rises is a reasonable planning assumption.
What makes up your Leicester bill: the precept breakdown
Your Leicester bill combines three separately-set precepts. At Band D, the official 2026/27 total of £2,528.75 splits as:
Leicester City Council
£2,121.87 at Band D — by far the largest share at roughly 84% of the total bill. As a unitary authority, this single precept funds adult social care, children's services, homelessness support, housing, waste collection, highways, and planning across the city. The council's own letter attributes a 5% increase to this element, with 2 percentage points ring-fenced for adult social care.
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Precept
£315.23 at Band D for 2026/27 — around 12.5% of the total bill. This precept covers policing across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, and is set independently of the city council's budget by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Combined Fire Authority
£91.65 at Band D for 2026/27 — the smallest element at around 3.6% of the total. This is the lowest of the three precepts but, as with police, is set by a separate authority and appears as its own line on your bill.
Three real-world Leicester scenarios: what different households actually pay
The band rate is the starting point. Here are three worked examples for 2026/27 reflecting Leicester's housing mix and household types.
Scenario 1 — Converted HMO bedsit, Band A, Clarendon Park
Clarendon Park and Highfields, near the University of Leicester and De Montfort University, have large numbers of Victorian terraces split into individually-banded flats and bedsits — most assessed as Band A. A working tenant living alone in a self-contained converted flat pays the Band A rate: £1,685.83. With the single person discount (25%): −£421.46. Final bill: £1,264.37/year (£126.44/month over 10 months). Many tenants in converted properties don't realise their flat has its own council tax band — separate from the original house — and miss claiming this discount.
Scenario 2 — Family of four, Band C semi in New Parks
New Parks and Eyres Monsell, in Leicester's outer estates, are predominantly Band B–C former council housing. No discount applies (multiple adults). Band C rate: £2,247.78/year. Standard monthly direct debit: £224.78 over 10 months, or £187.32 over 12 months. Over a 10-year horizon at a sustained 5% annual increase, this household's cumulative council tax liability would exceed £28,000 — a useful figure for long-term household budgeting given Leicester's track record of near-maximum rises.
Scenario 3 — Multi-generational household, Band D in Belgrave, claiming Second Adult Rebate
Belgrave and Spinney Hills have a higher proportion of larger, multi-generational households than the city average. Consider a homeowner living with an adult relative who has no income of their own and receives Pension Credit. The homeowner doesn't qualify for the single person discount (another adult lives there), but because that adult isn't their partner and is on a qualifying low income, the household may claim Second Adult Rebate instead. Band D rate: £2,528.75. At the 25% Second Adult Rebate rate: effective bill £1,896.56/year. This rebate is frequently overlooked because households assume "another adult lives here" automatically rules out any reduction.
Discounts and reductions available in Leicester 2026
None of these apply automatically — each requires an application to Leicester City Council. Note that Second Adult Rebate and the single person discount cannot be combined: if you qualify for both, the council will apply whichever gives you the larger reduction.
Single person discount
25% off
If you are the only adult living in the property as their main home. At Band D, this saves £632.19 per year for 2026/27. Must be applied for — not automatic when a household member moves out.
Second Adult Rebate
Up to 25%
For households where you share with another adult (not your partner) who is on a low income or qualifying benefits. Based on the second adult's income, not yours — and not means-tested against your own income or savings at all.
Leicester Council Tax Support
Up to 100%
Leicester's locally designed, means-tested scheme. Pension-age claimants can receive a full reduction. Working-age claimants receive a partial reduction based on income, savings, and household size.
Full-time students
Full exemption
Full-time students at the University of Leicester or De Montfort University are disregarded entirely. A property occupied solely by full-time students — common around Clarendon Park, Westcotes, and the city centre — pays zero council tax.
Disabled band reduction
1 band lower
If your home has been adapted for a disabled resident — a wheelchair-accessible room, additional bathroom, or ground-floor bedroom conversion — your band is reduced by one step. For a Band C property, this is the difference between £1,966.81 (Band B) and £2,247.78 (Band C): a saving of £280.97/year.
Severe mental impairment
Disregarded
Adults with a severe mental impairment, such as dementia or an acquired brain injury, are disregarded for council tax purposes. If all other residents also qualify for disregard, a full exemption may apply to the property.
Leicester-specific edge case: when one house becomes several council tax bands
Leicester has one of the highest concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the East Midlands, driven by its large student population and Victorian terraced housing stock. When a single dwelling is converted into self-contained flats — each with its own kitchen and bathroom, on separate tenancy agreements — the Valuation Office Agency can split the original council tax band into multiple separate bands, often several Band A assessments where there was previously one Band C or D house.
The practical implication works both ways. For landlords, this can mean a higher combined council tax liability across the converted units than the single original band suggested — relevant when calculating whether rent (which may be inclusive of council tax in licensed HMOs) covers the actual cost. For tenants in self-contained converted flats, it means you have your own band and your own bill — and your own eligibility for the single person discount, student exemption, or Second Adult Rebate, independent of your neighbours in other flats in the same building.
If you live in a converted property and are unsure whether your unit has its own band, check the VOA band checker using your specific flat or unit address rather than the building's main address.
Empty properties and second homes: 2026 premium rules in Leicester
From 1 April 2026, Leicester City Council can charge a 100% premium on properties left unoccupied and unfurnished for one year, down from the previous two-year threshold. An empty Band D property in Leicester could therefore face an annual bill of £5,057.50 — double the standard rate.
Given the financial pressures described above, empty property premiums represent a meaningful and easily-enforced revenue source for the council. Leicester has a notable stock of long-term empty terraced housing in parts of Spinney Hills, North Evington, and St Matthews — owners should expect the premium to be applied at the earliest qualifying point rather than relying on informal grace periods.
Nationally, 211 councils already charge double council tax on second homes, with a further 38 expected to follow from April 2026. Exemptions exist for probate periods, properties undergoing structural repair, and armed forces personnel serving overseas — confirm your situation with Leicester City Council before assuming a standard rate applies.
How to challenge your Leicester council tax band
Council tax bands across England were fixed using 1991 valuations and have never been updated. Leicester's housing stock has changed considerably since then, especially through HMO conversions and the demolition or refurbishment of terraced housing in inner suburbs — both of which can leave bands out of step with comparable properties.
To check your band, use the free Valuation Office Agency (VOA) band checker to compare your property against similar homes — built before 1993 and structurally similar — on your street. Leicester City Council's own band charges page directly links to both the VOA band checker and the GOV.UK band challenge process, and confirms that bands can change if you sell after making improvements, if a property is demolished, split into flats, or merged, or if major local changes affect values.
If you believe you are not the correct person to be billed, Leicester City Council's process is to write directly to: Leicester City Council, Revenues and Benefits Service, York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6FB, explaining why you disagree.
Important: The VOA can also raise a band it finds too low. With Leicester's housing stock having changed substantially since 1991 — particularly through HMO conversions — gather solid comparable evidence from similar, unaltered neighbouring properties before submitting a challenge.
Decision guide: what Leicester households should do right now
1
Confirm your individual band if you live in a converted property
If you live in a self-contained flat within a converted terrace in Clarendon Park, Highfields, or Westcotes, check the VOA band checker using your specific flat address — your unit may have its own band, separate from the original house.
2
Check single person discount or Second Adult Rebate eligibility
If you live alone, claim the 25% single person discount. If you share with a non-partner adult on a low income, check Second Adult Rebate instead — the two cannot be combined, but the council will apply whichever is higher.
3
Apply or reapply for Council Tax Support
If your income has changed or you've reached pension age, apply or reapply. Given Leicester's ongoing budget pressures, ensure your award reflects your current circumstances rather than relying on a historic assessment.
4
Switch to a 12-month payment plan if it helps cash flow
Leicester City Council offers 12-month spread payments on request, reducing the Band D monthly direct debit from £252.88 to £210.73. The annual total is unchanged — only the schedule differs.
5
Contact the council immediately if you've missed a payment
Leicester provides a dedicated line for residents struggling to pay (0116 454 1005), separate from the general 24-hour payment line (0116 454 1012). A reminder gives 7 days, a final notice removes the right to pay in instalments, and a Liability Order enables bailiff action or deductions from wages and benefits. Contact the council before this escalates.
What happens if you miss a payment in Leicester
If a Leicester council tax payment is missed without a prior arrangement, the enforcement timeline follows the standard English sequence. Acting before a Liability Order is granted — which adds court costs to the debt — significantly widens your options.
1
Reminder notice issued
Sent shortly after a missed instalment. You have 7 days to bring your account up to date and retain your right to pay monthly.
2
Final notice — instalments lost
A further missed payment results in a final notice, after which the full remaining annual balance becomes payable immediately, with 7 days before further action.
3
Magistrates' court — Liability Order
Leicester City Council can apply to the magistrates' court for a Liability Order, adding court costs to your debt. Once granted, this allows enforcement agents (bailiffs), deductions from earnings or benefits, or a charging order against your property.
✓
Early contact resolves most cases
Call Leicester's dedicated support line on 0116 454 1005 as soon as you anticipate difficulty. Payment plans, hardship support, and Council Tax Support applications are all available before enforcement begins — not after.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Leicester council tax Band D rate for 2026/27?
£2,528.75, confirmed in Leicester City Council's official 2026/27 charges. This splits as £2,121.87 to Leicester City Council, £315.23 to the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, and £91.65 to the Combined Fire Authority. The council's covering letter describes the city council's own increase as 5%, made up of 3% for general services and 2% ring-fenced for Adult Social Care.
Why does Leicester say "5%" when other councils say "4.99%"?
Both figures describe the same underlying permission: a 3% core increase plus a 2% Adult Social Care precept, which together equal 5%. Many councils round down fractionally to 4.99% specifically to stay just under a 5% threshold for referendum purposes in their own internal calculations, while others — including Leicester in its resident-facing letter — simply state the combined figure as 5%. The practical effect on your bill is the same either way.
Does Leicester have parish council precepts?
No. As a unitary authority covering the city itself, Leicester has no parish or town council precepts. Your bill consists solely of the city council, police, and fire elements shown above.
What is Second Adult Rebate and how is it different from Council Tax Support?
Second Adult Rebate is based entirely on the income of another adult living with you who is not your partner — your own income and savings are not assessed. Council Tax Support, by contrast, is based on your own (and your partner's) income and savings. If you might qualify for both, Leicester City Council will calculate each and apply whichever gives the larger reduction — you cannot receive both at once.
I live in a converted flat in a Victorian terrace — do I have my own council tax band?
Possibly. Where a property has been split into self-contained flats with separate kitchens, bathrooms, and tenancy agreements, the Valuation Office Agency often assigns each flat its own band — frequently Band A — separate from the original house's band. Check the VOA band checker using your specific flat's address to confirm, especially in Clarendon Park, Highfields, and Westcotes.
Can I spread my Leicester council tax over 12 months instead of 10?
Yes. Contact Leicester City Council to request a 12-month payment arrangement. On a Band D property, this reduces the monthly direct debit from £252.88 (10-month plan) to £210.73 (12-month plan). The total annual liability is identical — only the payment schedule changes.
