Wandsworth council tax rise of £1,171 for Band E: how it is set and what can be challenged

Correct as at 2 November 2026.

Wandsworth Council has told residents their council tax could rise sharply in 2027/28, with a Band E household facing an increase of £1,171, but the figure is not yet final.

Who is affected, and by how much?

The letters go to the primary account holder for each property in the borough, and the council has published a rise for every band. The council’s table shows the proposed changes before any discounts.

• Band A: from £680 to £1,319, a rise of £639.
• Band D: from £1,020 to £1,978, a rise of £958.
• Band E: from £1,247 to £2,418, a rise of £1,171.
• Band H: from £2,041 to £3,957, a rise of £1,916.

The council said the figures are for the standard charge for each band, without discounts, exemptions, support or premiums. Premiums apply to second homes and empty properties.

Why is the council proposing the rise?

The council says the main cause is a cut in government funding under the national Fair Funding Review, which redistributes money to areas judged to have higher need.

It said funding is already falling by £19m a year in 2026/27, rising to an £84m a year reduction by 2029.

The council said: “This is equivalent to 40% of our total income.”

It says other pressures add to the gap. By 2030 it puts the shortfall at about £84m from grant changes, £65m from inflation, £41m from an inherited budget gap and £24m from higher demand for services.

The council also says a spending review has produced £79m a year in savings, about £529 per household. For a Band D bill, it says that still leaves £958 to be found through council tax.

It says the increase would raise an additional £132m in 2027/28. The borough’s share of council tax currently generates a net £77m a year.

Has the rise been approved?

No. The council said the figures in the letter rest on its current financial planning assumptions and show the expected scale of the increase needed to close the funding gap.

The final level will be set through its budget process in February 2027, and needs full council agreement in early March 2027. New annual bills will be sent in March.

The council says the government has indicated that the normal referendum limits on council tax increases will not apply to a small number of low-tax authorities, including Wandsworth, for a limited period.

It says the government’s funding calculations assume council tax will rise, so not raising it would leave a larger gap. It also says it has considered phasing the rise over more than one year, but that this would need much greater use of reserves.

It says it is already using about £50m of reserves in 2026/27.

How does it compare with neighbours?

The council says Wandsworth’s Band D bill in 2027/28 would be £1,978. A Band D property in Lambeth pays £2,047.11 in 2026/27, and one in Merton pays £2,140.52. Those comparisons set a future Wandsworth figure against current bills elsewhere.

Can a bill be challenged?

Not simply because it is high. GOV.UK says: “You cannot appeal just because you think your Council Tax bill is too expensive.”

The official guidance lists the grounds for telling a council straight away: the home should not be charged, bills are going to the wrong person, the amount charged is wrong, or a discount or exemption has not been applied.

A challenge to the band goes to the Valuation Office.

The process is to write to the council explaining why the bill is wrong. The council must reply within 2 months, either issuing a new bill or explaining why the original is right.

If it decides the bill is wrong, the original amounts must still be paid until the new bill arrives.

Those who disagree with the decision, or hear nothing, can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. It is independent of the Valuation Office and free to use, but appellants pay their own costs.

The deadline is 2 months from the council’s decision, or 4 months from first writing to the council if there has been no response. GOV.UK says a late appeal may be possible where circumstances beyond the applicant’s control prevented applying in time.

Who may be left out of the figures?

The amounts in the letter will not match what some households actually pay. The council said anyone with a discount, exemption, council tax support or a premium may pay a different amount.

It says means-tested Council Tax Reduction may be available, with a benefit calculator on its benefits and support pages. Non-means-tested reductions exist, as does the option of paying over 12 months instead of 10.

Everyone named on a bill is jointly and severally liable, meaning each is legally responsible for ensuring the full amount is paid, the council said.

The council is also proposing changes to its Council Tax Reduction Scheme from April 2027, which it says would help more low-income households while ensuring everyone contributes to the cost of local services. It says any changes are subject to public consultation.

When will the final council tax level be decided?

The council says it will challenge the funding settlement under the Sustainable Communities Act and has asked residents to respond to its consultation and engagement survey. Its formal budget-setting takes place in February 2027, with full council agreement due in early March 2027.