Is your council doubling your second home’s bill?
Pick your council and band to see the year’s bill with the premium on its own line. All 296 English councils, from government figures.
Check my councilIn short
211 of England’s 296 councils had applied the second home council tax premium by October 2025, and 170,299 of the 267,894 homes recorded as second homes were being charged it. Every council using it had set the 100% maximum, so the bill doubles. By our estimate, that adds about £389 million a year at 2026-27 bills.
Updated 3 November 2026. Figures from MHCLG; October 2025 is the latest count, and the next is due on 18 November 2026.
- Second homes charged the premium
- 64%
- Highest share, Yorkshire and the Humber
- 78.7%
- Lowest share, East Midlands
- 40.8%
- Middle council’s Band D bill, 2026-27
- £2,441.46
What does your second home’s bill come to?
Not sure which council you’re in? GOV.UK finds it from a postcode.
Check your band on GOV.UK. Your choice stays on this device.
Second home, 2026-27
Cornwall
- Council tax, Band D
- £2,590.93
- Second home premium, 100%
- £2,590.93
- The year’s bill
- £5,181.86
Cornwall reported charging the premium in October 2025, on 11,109 of its 13,988 second homes.
Area average for two adults, including parish precepts. Your own parish, and any discount or exception, changes the figure. Your council’s bill is the final word.
How can you stop paying the premium?
Four routes change the bill. Which one suits you depends on whether you still want the house.
Put it on the market
A home actively marketed for sale or to let is excepted for up to 12 months. The sale exception is once per owner for that home.
Let it on a tenancy
The tenant becomes liable for council tax. You hand over use of the house, and getting it back takes time and process.
Let it to longer-staying guests
Contractors and people between houses book in weeks. Mid-term let management covers how those stays work and who pays what.
Run it as a holiday let
Available for 140 nights and let for 70 in the year, it moves to business rates and out of council tax. With a rateable value of £12,000 or less, small business rate relief can take the rates to nil, though owning other properties brings further conditions. The holiday let guide has the full test.
If the fourth route appeals, the question is what the house could earn against that bill. We’ll work it out for your home, free.
Get my free revenue estimateWhere are second homes most likely to pay it?
Nearly four in five second homes are charged the premium in Yorkshire and the Humber and in the South West. In the East Midlands, where fewer than half the councils had started, it’s about two in five.
The largest totals are Cornwall at about £29 million a year, Westminster at £17 million and North Yorkshire at £15 million. Those are the same estimate, council by council, in the last column below.
Which councils charge the second home premium?
Every English council, as reported at October 2025. A "not in 2025-26" may have changed: councils can start any April after a year’s notice, and many began in April 2026.
| Council | Premium | Second homes | Charged it | Band D bill | With premium | Extra a year (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdurSouth East | Charging | 152 | 142 | £2,548.28 | £5,096.56 | £334,674 |
| Amber ValleyEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 367 | 0 | £2,407.69 | n/a | £0 |
| ArunSouth East | Charging | 1,430 | 1,345 | £2,487.24 | £4,974.48 | £3,504,521 |
| AshfieldEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 300 | 0 | £2,608.76 | n/a | £0 |
| AshfordSouth East | Charging | 528 | 362 | £2,410.16 | £4,820.32 | £890,687 |
| BaberghEast of England | Charging | 459 | 381 | £2,341.55 | £4,683.10 | £921,790 |
| Barking and DagenhamLondon | Not in 2025-26 | 188 | 0 | £2,198.51 | n/a | £0 |
| BarnetLondon | Charging | 1,432 | 940 | £2,132.60 | £4,265.20 | £2,329,035 |
| BarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 85 | 71 | £2,325.96 | £4,651.92 | £137,749 |
| BasildonEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 264 | 0 | £2,327.24 | n/a | £0 |
| Basingstoke and DeaneSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 271 | 0 | £2,255.21 | n/a | £0 |
| BassetlawEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 281 | 0 | £2,644.95 | n/a | £0 |
| Bath and North East SomersetSouth West | Charging | 713 | 713 | £2,383.42 | £4,766.84 | £1,737,514 |
| BedfordEast of England | Charging | 174 | 161 | £2,471.74 | £4,943.48 | £384,218 |
| BexleyLondon | Charging | 42 | 33 | £2,366.36 | £4,732.72 | £77,564 |
| BirminghamWest Midlands | Charging | 782 | 782 | £2,362.90 | £4,725.80 | £1,551,114 |
| BlabyEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 152 | 0 | £2,490.22 | n/a | £0 |
| Blackburn with DarwenNorth West | Charging | 184 | 150 | £2,455.27 | £4,910.54 | £295,724 |
| BlackpoolNorth West | Charging | 1,026 | 831 | £2,513.22 | £5,026.44 | £1,523,570 |
| BolsoverEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 135 | 0 | £2,559.41 | n/a | £0 |
| BoltonNorth West | Charging | 494 | 404 | £2,399.74 | £4,799.48 | £765,784 |
| BostonEast Midlands | Charging | 126 | 98 | £2,308.73 | £4,617.46 | £183,416 |
| Bournemouth Christchurch and PooleSouth West | Charging | 4,278 | 3,734 | £2,435.58 | £4,871.16 | £10,387,749 |
| Bracknell ForestSouth East | Charging | 32 | 32 | £2,264.80 | £4,529.60 | £96,128 |
| BradfordYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 2,427 | 2,225 | £2,360.73 | £4,721.46 | £4,066,488 |
| BraintreeEast of England | Charging | 136 | 106 | £2,280.34 | £4,560.68 | £242,476 |
| BrecklandEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 502 | 0 | £2,443.67 | n/a | £0 |
| BrentLondon | Charging | 235 | 201 | £2,235.27 | £4,470.54 | £500,204 |
| BrentwoodEast of England | Charging | 157 | 131 | £2,258.14 | £4,516.28 | £310,871 |
| Brighton and HoveSouth East | Charging | 2,431 | 1,382 | £2,580.54 | £5,161.08 | £3,318,287 |
| BristolSouth West | Charging | 2,827 | 1,978 | £2,713.68 | £5,427.36 | £4,450,435 |
| BroadlandEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 410 | 0 | £2,437.78 | n/a | £0 |
| BromleyLondon | Charging | 251 | 225 | £2,140.04 | £4,280.08 | £538,577 |
| BromsgroveWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 139 | 0 | £2,478.65 | n/a | £0 |
| BroxbourneEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 56 | 0 | £2,306.43 | n/a | £0 |
| BroxtoweEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 464 | 0 | £2,618.21 | n/a | £0 |
| BuckinghamshireSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 858 | 0 | £2,526.58 | n/a | £0 |
| BurnleyNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 169 | 0 | £2,549.42 | n/a | £0 |
| BuryNorth West | Charging | 172 | 158 | £2,555.15 | £5,110.30 | £342,106 |
| CalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 348 | 308 | £2,420.15 | £4,840.30 | £610,146 |
| CambridgeEast of England | Charging | 1,245 | 495 | £2,467.02 | £4,934.04 | £1,183,073 |
| CamdenLondon | Charging | 3,968 | 2,286 | £2,207.55 | £4,415.10 | £5,335,403 |
| Cannock ChaseWest Midlands | Charging | 102 | 82 | £2,375.83 | £4,751.66 | £164,724 |
| CanterburySouth East | Charging | 1,343 | 1,057 | £2,419.33 | £4,838.66 | £2,393,526 |
| Castle PointEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 30 | 0 | £2,318.63 | n/a | £0 |
| Central BedfordshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 247 | 0 | £2,516.16 | n/a | £0 |
| CharnwoodEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 495 | 0 | £2,405.64 | n/a | £0 |
| ChelmsfordEast of England | Charging | 377 | 239 | £2,300.18 | £4,600.36 | £562,777 |
| CheltenhamSouth West | Charging | 763 | 656 | £2,369.52 | £4,739.04 | £1,354,839 |
| CherwellSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 752 | 0 | £2,582.96 | n/a | £0 |
| Cheshire EastNorth West | Charging | 1,233 | 1,030 | £2,454.87 | £4,909.74 | £2,370,859 |
| Cheshire West and ChesterNorth West | Charging | 875 | 570 | £2,517.33 | £5,034.66 | £1,357,960 |
| ChesterfieldEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 233 | 0 | £2,339.49 | n/a | £0 |
| ChichesterSouth East | Charging | 2,459 | 1,895 | £2,469.68 | £4,939.36 | £5,660,232 |
| ChorleyNorth West | Charging | 110 | 99 | £2,430.23 | £4,860.46 | £213,860 |
| City of LondonLondon | Charging | 1,929 | 1,809 | £1,329.56 | £2,659.12 | £3,138,650 |
| ColchesterEast of England | Charging | 570 | 259 | £2,282.85 | £4,565.70 | £586,692 |
| CornwallSouth West | Charging | 13,988 | 11,109 | £2,590.93 | £5,181.86 | £28,994,529 |
| CotswoldSouth West | Charging | 1,828 | 1,140 | £2,391.65 | £4,783.30 | £3,276,294 |
| CoventryWest Midlands | Charging | 2,606 | 983 | £2,516.72 | £5,033.44 | £1,877,471 |
| CrawleySouth East | Charging | 93 | 80 | £2,418.46 | £4,836.92 | £178,697 |
| CroydonLondon | Charging | 230 | 129 | £2,599.91 | £5,199.82 | £326,433 |
| CumberlandNorth West | Charging | 2,847 | 2,507 | £2,511.32 | £5,022.64 | £5,347,990 |
| DacorumEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 365 | 0 | £2,408.51 | n/a | £0 |
| DarlingtonNorth East | Charging | 163 | 94 | £2,493.83 | £4,987.66 | £197,567 |
| DartfordSouth East | Charging | 177 | 93 | £2,375.15 | £4,750.30 | £210,069 |
| DerbyEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 268 | 0 | £2,306.00 | n/a | £0 |
| Derbyshire DalesEast Midlands | Charging | 903 | 803 | £2,444.70 | £4,889.40 | £1,915,830 |
| DoncasterYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 798 | 441 | £2,167.75 | £4,335.50 | £775,574 |
| DorsetSouth West | Charging | 5,981 | 4,843 | £2,765.02 | £5,530.04 | £13,780,868 |
| DoverSouth East | Charging | 1,137 | 859 | £2,461.74 | £4,923.48 | £2,075,520 |
| DudleyWest Midlands | Charging | 255 | 153 | £2,144.84 | £4,289.68 | £276,684 |
| DurhamNorth East | Charging | 1,578 | 1,093 | £2,622.15 | £5,244.30 | £2,387,322 |
| EalingLondon | Charging | 1,592 | 616 | £2,138.53 | £4,277.06 | £1,355,591 |
| East CambridgeshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 294 | 0 | £2,485.18 | n/a | £0 |
| East DevonSouth West | Charging | 2,458 | 2,149 | £2,595.46 | £5,190.92 | £5,646,283 |
| East HampshireSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 430 | 0 | £2,343.92 | n/a | £0 |
| East HertfordshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 163 | 0 | £2,454.78 | n/a | £0 |
| East LindseyEast Midlands | Charging | 1,521 | 1,079 | £2,275.88 | £4,551.76 | £1,954,725 |
| East Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 2,069 | 1,422 | £2,466.08 | £4,932.16 | £2,970,802 |
| East StaffordshireWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 372 | 0 | £2,351.34 | n/a | £0 |
| East SuffolkEast of England | Charging | 4,006 | 3,520 | £2,334.80 | £4,669.60 | £8,250,924 |
| EastbourneSouth East | Charging | 940 | 843 | £2,654.28 | £5,308.56 | £2,210,720 |
| EastleighSouth East | Charging | 247 | 143 | £2,342.21 | £4,684.42 | £327,909 |
| ElmbridgeSouth East | Charging | 188 | 167 | £2,557.75 | £5,115.50 | £537,980 |
| EnfieldLondon | Charging | 641 | 641 | £2,267.67 | £4,535.34 | £1,410,491 |
| Epping ForestEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 454 | 0 | £2,277.21 | n/a | £0 |
| Epsom and EwellSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 59 | 0 | £2,530.84 | n/a | £0 |
| ErewashEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 174 | 0 | £2,360.64 | n/a | £0 |
| ExeterSouth West | Charging | 428 | 392 | £2,495.36 | £4,990.72 | £886,130 |
| FarehamSouth East | Charging | 274 | 97 | £2,270.55 | £4,541.10 | £230,082 |
| FenlandEast of England | Charging | 219 | 147 | £2,537.74 | £5,075.48 | £307,067 |
| Folkestone and HytheSouth East | Charging | 987 | 825 | £2,538.75 | £5,077.50 | £2,028,179 |
| Forest of DeanSouth West | Charging | 334 | 246 | £2,443.42 | £4,886.84 | £586,421 |
| FyldeNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 754 | 0 | £2,483.94 | n/a | £0 |
| GatesheadNorth East | Not in 2025-26 | 507 | 0 | £2,715.81 | n/a | £0 |
| GedlingEast Midlands | Charging | 144 | 126 | £2,609.55 | £5,219.10 | £272,553 |
| GloucesterSouth West | Charging | 124 | 111 | £2,355.84 | £4,711.68 | £214,381 |
| GosportSouth East | Charging | 180 | 165 | £2,344.29 | £4,688.58 | £372,482 |
| GraveshamSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 15 | 0 | £2,408.24 | n/a | £0 |
| Great YarmouthEast of England | Charging | 2,603 | 696 | £2,414.41 | £4,828.82 | £1,351,533 |
| GreenwichLondon | Charging | 531 | 505 | £2,107.86 | £4,215.72 | £999,125 |
| GuildfordSouth East | Charging | 393 | 263 | £2,547.30 | £5,094.60 | £749,472 |
| HackneyLondon | Charging | 1,021 | 387 | £2,060.30 | £4,120.60 | £725,912 |
| HaltonNorth West | Charging | 58 | 53 | £2,366.61 | £4,733.22 | £104,394 |
| Hammersmith and FulhamLondon | Charging | 2,595 | 2,160 | £1,519.51 | £3,039.02 | £3,935,703 |
| HarboroughEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 232 | 0 | £2,389.87 | n/a | £0 |
| HaringeyLondon | Charging | 1,617 | 537 | £2,313.78 | £4,627.56 | £1,147,892 |
| HarlowEast of England | Charging | 123 | 100 | £2,298.69 | £4,597.38 | £196,666 |
| HarrowLondon | Charging | 417 | 375 | £2,511.07 | £5,022.14 | £973,179 |
| HartSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 106 | 0 | £2,400.02 | n/a | £0 |
| HartlepoolNorth East | Charging | 104 | 104 | £2,560.20 | £5,120.40 | £203,963 |
| HastingsSouth East | Charging | 726 | 618 | £2,676.58 | £5,353.16 | £1,262,752 |
| HavantSouth East | Charging | 200 | 169 | £2,320.28 | £4,640.56 | £414,557 |
| HaveringLondon | Charging | 56 | 56 | £2,424.66 | £4,849.32 | £137,397 |
| HerefordshireWest Midlands | Charging | 911 | 795 | £2,574.37 | £5,148.74 | £2,125,572 |
| HertsmereEast of England | Charging | 127 | 96 | £2,405.83 | £4,811.66 | £246,731 |
| High PeakEast Midlands | Charging | 330 | 295 | £2,384.66 | £4,769.32 | £644,123 |
| HillingdonLondon | Not in 2025-26 | 729 | 0 | £2,045.46 | n/a | £0 |
| Hinckley and BosworthEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 183 | 0 | £2,382.62 | n/a | £0 |
| HorshamSouth East | Charging | 199 | 160 | £2,441.01 | £4,882.02 | £479,523 |
| HounslowLondon | Charging | 202 | 200 | £2,185.56 | £4,371.12 | £484,223 |
| HuntingdonshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 363 | 0 | £2,556.40 | n/a | £0 |
| HyndburnNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 40 | 0 | £2,465.98 | n/a | £0 |
| IpswichEast of England | Charging | 395 | 395 | £2,468.25 | £4,936.50 | £771,191 |
| Isle of WightSouth East | Charging | 3,622 | 2,814 | £2,625.79 | £5,251.58 | £7,568,407 |
| Isles of ScillySouth West | Charging | 115 | 104 | £2,047.96 | £4,095.92 | £266,917 |
| IslingtonLondon | Charging | 813 | 247 | £2,108.15 | £4,216.30 | £637,364 |
| Kensington and ChelseaLondon | Not in 2025-26 | 7,898 | 0 | £1,666.65 | n/a | £0 |
| King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England | Charging | 3,182 | 2,732 | £2,430.13 | £4,860.26 | £6,675,302 |
| Kingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 334 | 325 | £2,295.04 | £4,590.08 | £552,595 |
| Kingston upon ThamesLondon | Charging | 778 | 738 | £2,609.20 | £5,218.40 | £1,875,725 |
| KirkleesYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 1,125 | 1,097 | £2,441.07 | £4,882.14 | £2,068,400 |
| KnowsleyNorth West | Charging | 73 | 68 | £2,488.25 | £4,976.50 | £134,365 |
| LambethLondon | Charging | 1,784 | 352 | £2,047.11 | £4,094.22 | £846,366 |
| LancasterNorth West | Charging | 1,051 | 511 | £2,503.19 | £5,006.38 | £1,096,675 |
| LeedsYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 3,439 | 2,898 | £2,283.73 | £4,567.46 | £5,576,615 |
| LeicesterEast Midlands | Charging | 2,129 | 1,778 | £2,528.75 | £5,057.50 | £3,422,802 |
| LewesSouth East | Charging | 356 | 283 | £2,756.17 | £5,512.34 | £791,327 |
| LewishamLondon | Charging | 579 | 193 | £2,237.33 | £4,474.66 | £378,109 |
| LichfieldWest Midlands | Charging | 121 | 92 | £2,351.90 | £4,703.80 | £192,333 |
| LincolnEast Midlands | Charging | 1,055 | 345 | £2,323.08 | £4,646.16 | £579,738 |
| LiverpoolNorth West | Charging | 448 | 365 | £2,673.59 | £5,347.18 | £775,340 |
| LutonEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 123 | 0 | £2,439.93 | n/a | £0 |
| MaidstoneSouth East | Charging | 160 | 116 | £2,502.59 | £5,005.18 | £332,844 |
| MaldonEast of England | Charging | 212 | 179 | £2,328.37 | £4,656.74 | £418,330 |
| Malvern HillsWest Midlands | Charging | 357 | 262 | £2,450.92 | £4,901.84 | £644,865 |
| ManchesterNorth West | Charging | 6,838 | 2,045 | £2,312.04 | £4,624.08 | £4,005,738 |
| MansfieldEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 78 | 0 | £2,600.38 | n/a | £0 |
| MedwaySouth East | Charging | 325 | 255 | £2,328.55 | £4,657.10 | £533,238 |
| MeltonEast Midlands | Charging | 34 | 33 | £2,429.67 | £4,859.34 | £77,209 |
| MertonLondon | Charging | 1,132 | 1,131 | £2,146.76 | £4,293.52 | £2,485,232 |
| Mid DevonSouth West | Charging | 196 | 137 | £2,656.41 | £5,312.82 | £371,012 |
| Mid SuffolkEast of England | Charging | 412 | 342 | £2,316.88 | £4,633.76 | £795,462 |
| Mid SussexSouth East | Charging | 217 | 121 | £2,474.26 | £4,948.52 | £318,905 |
| MiddlesbroughNorth East | Not in 2025-26 | 63 | 0 | £2,549.16 | n/a | £0 |
| Milton KeynesSouth East | Charging | 1,340 | 1,279 | £2,372.21 | £4,744.42 | £2,990,565 |
| Mole ValleySouth East | Charging | 269 | 149 | £2,519.86 | £5,039.72 | £467,294 |
| New ForestSouth East | Charging | 1,453 | 1,210 | £2,419.76 | £4,839.52 | £3,442,780 |
| Newark and SherwoodEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 196 | 0 | £2,682.10 | n/a | £0 |
| Newcastle upon TyneNorth East | Charging | 2,507 | 2,160 | £2,542.19 | £5,084.38 | £4,317,764 |
| Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands | Charging | 296 | 296 | £2,334.25 | £4,668.50 | £592,381 |
| NewhamLondon | Charging | 205 | 23 | £1,944.23 | £3,888.46 | £45,797 |
| North DevonSouth West | Charging | 1,990 | 1,651 | £2,642.21 | £5,284.42 | £4,145,920 |
| North East DerbyshireEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 201 | 0 | £2,466.57 | n/a | £0 |
| North East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | Not in 2025-26 | 381 | 0 | £2,483.85 | n/a | £0 |
| North HertfordshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 149 | 0 | £2,448.52 | n/a | £0 |
| North KestevenEast Midlands | Charging | 329 | 147 | £2,337.81 | £4,675.62 | £307,812 |
| North LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | Not in 2025-26 | 353 | 0 | £2,348.46 | n/a | £0 |
| North NorfolkEast of England | Charging | 5,795 | 4,421 | £2,459.93 | £4,919.86 | £10,149,936 |
| North NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 508 | 0 | £2,423.96 | n/a | £0 |
| North SomersetSouth West | Not in 2025-26 | 327 | 0 | £2,491.22 | n/a | £0 |
| North TynesideNorth East | Charging | 295 | 295 | £2,461.77 | £4,923.54 | £583,713 |
| North WarwickshireWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 53 | 0 | £2,532.10 | n/a | £0 |
| North West LeicestershireEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 218 | 0 | £2,418.20 | n/a | £0 |
| North YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 7,344 | 6,581 | £2,544.34 | £5,088.68 | £15,360,475 |
| NorthumberlandNorth East | Charging | 3,466 | 2,943 | £2,596.94 | £5,193.88 | £6,885,350 |
| NorwichEast of England | Charging | 1,004 | 197 | £2,503.44 | £5,006.88 | £428,645 |
| NottinghamEast Midlands | Charging | 1,142 | 68 | £2,755.39 | £5,510.78 | £155,220 |
| Nuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 153 | 0 | £2,502.16 | n/a | £0 |
| Oadby and WigstonEast Midlands | Charging | 53 | 50 | £2,406.85 | £4,813.70 | £113,389 |
| OldhamNorth West | Charging | 337 | 257 | £2,602.23 | £5,204.46 | £529,409 |
| OxfordSouth East | Charging | 1,313 | 1,137 | £2,678.40 | £5,356.80 | £2,972,429 |
| PendleNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 204 | 0 | £2,640.18 | n/a | £0 |
| PeterboroughEast of England | Charging | 344 | 258 | £2,293.47 | £4,586.94 | £483,667 |
| PlymouthSouth West | Charging | 973 | 862 | £2,441.85 | £4,883.70 | £1,709,566 |
| PortsmouthSouth East | Charging | 1,028 | 425 | £2,291.71 | £4,583.42 | £915,666 |
| PrestonNorth West | Charging | 1,191 | 494 | £2,575.74 | £5,151.48 | £950,734 |
| ReadingSouth East | Charging | 1,975 | 1,690 | £2,612.77 | £5,225.54 | £3,365,540 |
| RedbridgeLondon | Charging | 549 | 535 | £2,294.58 | £4,589.16 | £1,188,083 |
| Redcar and ClevelandNorth East | Charging | 220 | 220 | £2,544.48 | £5,088.96 | £436,802 |
| RedditchWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 116 | 0 | £2,462.95 | n/a | £0 |
| Reigate and BansteadSouth East | Charging | 289 | 106 | £2,566.61 | £5,133.22 | £319,115 |
| Ribble ValleyNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 277 | 0 | £2,386.50 | n/a | £0 |
| Richmond upon ThamesLondon | Charging | 490 | 327 | £2,486.10 | £4,972.20 | £986,430 |
| RochdaleNorth West | Charging | 213 | 182 | £2,600.83 | £5,201.66 | £351,691 |
| RochfordEast of England | Charging | 70 | 52 | £2,363.48 | £4,726.96 | £122,113 |
| RossendaleNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 130 | 0 | £2,519.97 | n/a | £0 |
| RotherSouth East | Charging | 951 | 832 | £2,700.95 | £5,401.90 | £2,305,410 |
| RotherhamYorkshire and the Humber | Not in 2025-26 | 564 | 0 | £2,381.53 | n/a | £0 |
| RugbyWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 183 | 0 | £2,483.05 | n/a | £0 |
| RunnymedeSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 322 | 0 | £2,492.99 | n/a | £0 |
| RushcliffeEast Midlands | Charging | 253 | 109 | £2,643.27 | £5,286.54 | £270,201 |
| RushmoorSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 91 | 0 | £2,320.28 | n/a | £0 |
| RutlandEast Midlands | Charging | 163 | 138 | £2,737.58 | £5,475.16 | £374,440 |
| SalfordNorth West | Charging | 2,980 | 1,503 | £2,594.45 | £5,188.90 | £3,142,456 |
| SandwellWest Midlands | Charging | 646 | 549 | £2,244.46 | £4,488.92 | £929,706 |
| SeftonNorth West | Charging | 583 | 427 | £2,583.22 | £5,166.44 | £960,672 |
| SevenoaksSouth East | Charging | 343 | 180 | £2,522.36 | £5,044.72 | £530,256 |
| SheffieldYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 937 | 541 | £2,510.16 | £5,020.32 | £1,058,451 |
| ShropshireWest Midlands | Charging | 1,799 | 1,508 | £2,528.18 | £5,056.36 | £3,514,168 |
| SloughSouth East | Charging | 239 | 129 | £2,414.44 | £4,828.88 | £276,319 |
| SolihullWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 291 | 0 | £2,197.26 | n/a | £0 |
| SomersetSouth West | Charging | 2,289 | 1,955 | £2,560.59 | £5,121.18 | £4,836,385 |
| South CambridgeshireEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 421 | 0 | £2,536.25 | n/a | £0 |
| South DerbyshireEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 209 | 0 | £2,339.61 | n/a | £0 |
| South GloucestershireSouth West | Charging | 70 | 70 | £2,550.59 | £5,101.18 | £175,140 |
| South HamsSouth West | Charging | 4,184 | 3,439 | £2,615.22 | £5,230.44 | £10,629,998 |
| South HollandEast Midlands | Charging | 277 | 179 | £2,278.20 | £4,556.40 | £331,858 |
| South KestevenEast Midlands | Charging | 317 | 211 | £2,260.00 | £4,520.00 | £432,665 |
| South NorfolkEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 599 | 0 | £2,482.87 | n/a | £0 |
| South OxfordshireSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 253 | 0 | £2,597.57 | n/a | £0 |
| South RibbleNorth West | Charging | 43 | 39 | £2,442.66 | £4,885.32 | £84,950 |
| South StaffordshireWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 233 | 0 | £2,313.67 | n/a | £0 |
| South TynesideNorth East | Not in 2025-26 | 35 | 0 | £2,434.43 | n/a | £0 |
| SouthamptonSouth East | Charging | 965 | 168 | £2,381.48 | £4,762.96 | £339,493 |
| Southend-on-SeaEast of England | Charging | 608 | 494 | £2,265.17 | £4,530.34 | £1,002,463 |
| SouthwarkLondon | Charging | 2,771 | 700 | £1,967.26 | £3,934.52 | £1,561,787 |
| SpelthorneSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 105 | 0 | £2,526.44 | n/a | £0 |
| St AlbansEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 290 | 0 | £2,419.22 | n/a | £0 |
| St HelensNorth West | Charging | 552 | 458 | £2,403.38 | £4,806.76 | £866,552 |
| StaffordWest Midlands | Charging | 216 | 193 | £2,302.68 | £4,605.36 | £402,201 |
| Staffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands | Charging | 293 | 200 | £2,338.21 | £4,676.42 | £425,295 |
| StevenageEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 46 | 0 | £2,391.97 | n/a | £0 |
| StockportNorth West | Charging | 496 | 251 | £2,618.90 | £5,237.80 | £617,769 |
| Stockton-on-TeesNorth East | Charging | 291 | 248 | £2,589.83 | £5,179.66 | £521,706 |
| Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands | Charging | 280 | 205 | £2,183.12 | £4,366.24 | £327,953 |
| Stratford-on-AvonWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 828 | 0 | £2,484.17 | n/a | £0 |
| StroudSouth West | Charging | 610 | 421 | £2,491.36 | £4,982.72 | £1,088,724 |
| SunderlandNorth East | Charging | 966 | 302 | £2,197.14 | £4,394.28 | £510,957 |
| Surrey HeathSouth East | Charging | 121 | 87 | £2,585.16 | £5,170.32 | £316,538 |
| SuttonLondon | Charging | 162 | 151 | £2,378.64 | £4,757.28 | £358,911 |
| SwaleSouth East | Charging | 1,239 | 142 | £2,405.65 | £4,811.30 | £323,961 |
| SwindonSouth West | Not in 2025-26 | 99 | 0 | £2,438.10 | n/a | £0 |
| TamesideNorth West | Charging | 99 | 78 | £2,447.21 | £4,894.42 | £152,271 |
| TamworthWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 6 | 0 | £2,300.76 | n/a | £0 |
| TandridgeSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 181 | 0 | £2,594.85 | n/a | £0 |
| TeignbridgeSouth West | Charging | 1,055 | 810 | £2,643.12 | £5,286.24 | £2,011,414 |
| Telford and WrekinWest Midlands | Charging | 252 | 173 | £2,256.26 | £4,512.52 | £329,414 |
| TendringEast of England | Charging | 1,221 | 907 | £2,269.63 | £4,539.26 | £1,842,184 |
| Test ValleySouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 134 | 0 | £2,305.52 | n/a | £0 |
| TewkesburySouth West | Charging | 227 | 208 | £2,340.53 | £4,681.06 | £547,164 |
| ThanetSouth East | Charging | 1,701 | 1,490 | £2,490.90 | £4,981.80 | £3,214,922 |
| Three RiversEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 35 | 0 | £2,422.31 | n/a | £0 |
| ThurrockEast of England | Charging | 198 | 99 | £2,254.68 | £4,509.36 | £188,391 |
| Tonbridge and MallingSouth East | Charging | 216 | 167 | £2,471.83 | £4,943.66 | £466,077 |
| TorbaySouth West | Charging | 1,345 | 1,318 | £2,470.25 | £4,940.50 | £3,086,166 |
| TorridgeSouth West | Charging | 1,643 | 917 | £2,601.42 | £5,202.84 | £2,144,148 |
| Tower HamletsLondon | Charging | 7,567 | 3,231 | £1,837.78 | £3,675.56 | £6,698,096 |
| TraffordNorth West | Charging | 898 | 800 | £2,291.70 | £4,583.40 | £1,619,468 |
| Tunbridge WellsSouth East | Charging | 240 | 203 | £2,446.15 | £4,892.30 | £556,635 |
| UttlesfordEast of England | Charging | 236 | 96 | £2,333.82 | £4,667.64 | £251,015 |
| Vale of White HorseSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 305 | 0 | £2,577.44 | n/a | £0 |
| WakefieldYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 734 | 551 | £2,296.89 | £4,593.78 | £1,001,954 |
| WalsallWest Midlands | Charging | 247 | 215 | £2,627.48 | £5,254.96 | £437,913 |
| Waltham ForestLondon | Charging | 242 | 208 | £2,386.96 | £4,773.92 | £435,222 |
| WandsworthLondon | Charging | 2,443 | 1,263 | £1,028.21 | £2,056.42 | £1,499,356 |
| WarringtonNorth West | Charging | 416 | 307 | £2,447.61 | £4,895.22 | £629,852 |
| WarwickWest Midlands | Charging | 939 | 306 | £2,461.55 | £4,923.10 | £683,490 |
| WatfordEast of England | Not in 2025-26 | 41 | 0 | £2,446.70 | n/a | £0 |
| WaverleySouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 314 | 0 | £2,604.87 | n/a | £0 |
| WealdenSouth East | Charging | 524 | 394 | £2,728.43 | £5,456.86 | £1,251,440 |
| Welwyn HatfieldEast of England | Charging | 224 | 202 | £2,452.26 | £4,904.52 | £491,542 |
| West BerkshireSouth East | Charging | 194 | 188 | £2,505.37 | £5,010.74 | £555,914 |
| West DevonSouth West | Charging | 574 | 463 | £2,705.33 | £5,410.66 | £1,208,080 |
| West LancashireNorth West | Charging | 54 | 53 | £2,456.23 | £4,912.46 | £128,270 |
| West LindseyEast Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 281 | 0 | £2,354.25 | n/a | £0 |
| West NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | Charging | 380 | 307 | £2,486.66 | £4,973.32 | £749,037 |
| West OxfordshireSouth East | Charging | 735 | 617 | £2,566.95 | £5,133.90 | £1,879,007 |
| West SuffolkEast of England | Charging | 466 | 379 | £2,351.47 | £4,702.94 | £847,314 |
| WestminsterLondon | Charging | 10,889 | 10,587 | £1,049.55 | £2,099.10 | £16,605,863 |
| Westmorland and FurnessNorth West | Charging | 5,460 | 4,830 | £2,507.99 | £5,015.98 | £12,447,145 |
| WiganNorth West | Charging | 484 | 340 | £2,152.68 | £4,305.36 | £567,112 |
| WiltshireSouth West | Not in 2025-26 | 1,346 | 0 | £2,571.78 | n/a | £0 |
| WinchesterSouth East | Not in 2025-26 | 482 | 0 | £2,359.76 | n/a | £0 |
| Windsor and MaidenheadSouth East | Charging | 731 | 639 | £1,952.62 | £3,905.24 | £1,448,410 |
| WirralNorth West | Charging | 621 | 510 | £2,500.59 | £5,001.18 | £1,107,206 |
| WokingSouth East | Charging | 198 | 158 | £2,598.04 | £5,196.08 | £434,450 |
| WokinghamSouth East | Charging | 268 | 186 | £2,497.70 | £4,995.40 | £512,861 |
| WolverhamptonWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 649 | 0 | £2,538.99 | n/a | £0 |
| WorcesterWest Midlands | Charging | 260 | 208 | £2,405.81 | £4,811.62 | £407,384 |
| WorthingSouth East | Charging | 433 | 419 | £2,456.13 | £4,912.26 | £951,341 |
| WychavonWest Midlands | Charging | 382 | 303 | £2,373.19 | £4,746.38 | £737,798 |
| WyreNorth West | Not in 2025-26 | 87 | 0 | £2,460.53 | n/a | £0 |
| Wyre ForestWest Midlands | Not in 2025-26 | 466 | 0 | £2,512.47 | n/a | £0 |
| YorkYorkshire and the Humber | Charging | 503 | 412 | £2,287.15 | £4,574.30 | £905,457 |
How these figures are worked out
Second-home counts and each council’s yes or no come from Council Taxbase 2025, which records the position at 6 October 2025. Councils reported these themselves, and we’ve changed nothing. Bills come from Table 9 of Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027: the area figure by band for two adults, including parish and adult social care precepts.
The checker doubles that bill where a council reported charging the premium. The yearly estimate multiplies the homes charged the premium in each band by that band’s 2026-27 bill, then adds them up. It mixes an October 2025 count with 2026-27 bills, and it leaves out councils that started later, so read it as a sense of scale.
The councils add up to England’s published totals. Lewes’s 2026-27 bills were still awaiting a full council decision when the figures were published.
Sources
- MHCLG, Council Taxbase 2025 in England, revised 21 January 2026
- MHCLG, Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027, Table 9
- MHCLG, guidance on the premiums and exceptions, updated 1 May 2026
- Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 11C
- GOV.UK, business rates for a self-catering property in England
- GOV.UK, small business rate relief
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general information, not tax advice.
Second home council tax: common questions
Which councils charge double council tax on second homes?
211 of England’s 296 councils reported applying the premium in 2025-26, and the table on this page names each one. A further 85 had not applied it by October 2025, though some of those started in April 2026 or have set a later date, so check your council’s own council tax page before relying on a "no".
How much is the second home council tax premium?
Councils in England can add up to 100%, and every council using the premium in October 2025 had set it at 100%, so the bill doubles. At the middle council’s Band D bill of £2,441.46 for 2026-27, that’s the same amount again on top.
When did the second home premium start?
The earliest possible start was 1 April 2025. A council has to make its first decision at least a year before the financial year it applies to, which is why some councils began in April 2026 and others have set April 2027.
Which second homes are excepted from the premium?
The national exceptions cover homes actively marketed for sale or to let (up to 12 months), homes in recent probate (up to 12 months from the grant), job-related dwellings, occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings, annexes, and seasonal homes where year-round living is prohibited. You usually have to tell your council and show the evidence.
Does a holiday let pay the second home premium?
A holiday let that moves to business rates pays no council tax, so no premium. In England that takes being available for 140 nights and actually let for 70 in the year. A let that misses the test stays in council tax, where the premium can apply.
Does this cover Scotland and Wales?
No. This data is for England only. Scotland and Wales set their own rules and ceilings for second homes, so your council’s own page is the place to check.
Where do these figures come from?
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Council Taxbase 2025 for second-home counts as at October 2025, and Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027 for the bills. The £389 million total is our own arithmetic from those two releases.
More on what to do with the house: what to do with a second home that is sitting empty.