Welsh Council Tax Bands
Council tax rates for every band across all 22 Welsh local authorities — updated automatically from StatsWales official open data. Find your band, compare councils and calculate the cost of ownership for any Welsh property.
Council Tax Calculator
Select your council and band to see your annual and monthly council tax bill.
All Welsh Council Tax Rates
Annual council tax by band for all 22 Welsh local authorities. Click any council to highlight it. Click any column header to sort.
Band D Council Tax by Council — Cheapest to Most Expensive
Band D is the standard reference band used to compare council tax levels. Wales average Band D : .
Discounts, Exemptions & Reductions
Many properties and occupiers qualify for a council tax reduction. Check what applies to you.
Single Person Discount
If only one adult lives in a property as their main home, a 25% single person discount applies automatically. The property must be your sole or main residence. Certain adults are disregarded for this purpose — including full-time students, apprentices, care workers and people with severe mental impairments.
Unoccupied & Unfurnished Properties
Empty and unfurnished properties may receive a 50% discount for up to 6 months. After 6 months, councils in Wales can charge the full rate — and most do. Landlords with void properties between tenancies should check their council's specific policy.
Student Exemptions
Properties occupied solely by full-time students are exempt from council tax. Individual students living with non-students are disregarded for the purposes of calculating council tax, potentially qualifying the remaining occupants for a single person discount.
Other Exemptions
Further exemptions apply to properties: occupied only by those under 18; occupied only by severely mentally impaired persons; being used as armed forces accommodation; owned by a charity and unoccupied; and certain other categories. Contact your council to confirm eligibility.
Disabled Band Reduction (Band A-)
If a disabled person lives in the property and it has been adapted for their needs (e.g. extra space for a wheelchair, a room for dialysis equipment, or a second bathroom), the property may be charged at one band lower than its actual band — or Band A- if already in Band A. This is the A- band shown in the rates table.
Council Tax Reduction Scheme
Low-income households in Wales can apply for a Council Tax Reduction (formerly Council Tax Benefit). Each Welsh council administers its own scheme, which can reduce the bill significantly or eliminate it entirely for eligible households. Apply through your local council.
Second Home & Empty Property Premiums in Wales
Welsh councils have significant powers to charge premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties — important for landlords and investors.
Second Home Premium
Welsh councils can charge up to 300% of the standard council tax on second homes (properties that are not anyone's main residence). Many Welsh councils — particularly in high-demand coastal and rural areas including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Isle of Anglesey — charge the maximum or close to it. This significantly affects the cost of holiday let ownership in Wales.
Long-Term Empty Premium
Properties empty for more than one year can be charged a premium of up to 300% in Wales. This was introduced to incentivise landlords and owners to bring empty properties back into use. The level of premium varies by council — check with your specific local authority.
New Build Premium
From 1 April 2026, Welsh councils can charge a premium on newly built properties that remain unsold or unoccupied after completion. This applies to new builds that have not been occupied as a sole or main residence. This is a new power and individual councils are deciding whether and at what level to apply it.
Welsh Council Tax Bands Explained
Properties in Wales are assessed for council tax based on their market value as at 1 April 2003 — the date of the last Welsh revaluation.
| Band | 2003 Property Value | Ratio to Band D | Notes |
|---|
Wales has 10 bands (A– to I) — unlike England which has 8 (A to H). The additional Band I was introduced for the most valuable properties in Wales. The A– band applies only to properties occupied by disabled residents who qualify for the disability reduction.
Property values are based on 2003 assessments — not current market values. If you believe your property has been placed in the wrong band, you can challenge your banding through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The challenge process requires evidence that comparable properties nearby are in a lower band.
Band D as the reference point — all other bands are calculated as fractions of Band D. This means when a council sets its annual rate, all other bands adjust automatically in proportion.
Council Tax — What Welsh Landlords Need to Know
Key council tax obligations and considerations for buy-to-let landlords in Wales.
Who pays during a tenancy?
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, the contract-holder (tenant) is responsible for council tax during their occupation. The landlord becomes liable during void periods between tenancies.
Void period council tax
During void periods the landlord is responsible for council tax. Most councils offer a 50% discount for the first 6 months of an empty unfurnished property, after which full council tax applies — and premiums may apply after 12 months.
HMOs — who is liable?
For Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), the landlord is typically liable for council tax — not the individual occupiers. HMO landlords should factor council tax into their cost of ownership and void calculations.
Student properties
Properties occupied solely by full-time students are exempt. However, if even one non-student occupies the property, council tax becomes payable. Ensure your student occupation contracts are clear on this obligation.
Second home premiums
A property not occupied as a main residence by either landlord or tenant may be classed as a second home. This is particularly relevant for holiday lets and properties between long-term tenancies in high-premium Welsh council areas.
Include council tax in yield calculations
Council tax during void periods is a real cost of ownership. Use our Rental Yield Calculator to model the full cost including council tax, management fees, maintenance and insurance.
Managing Welsh Rental Property?
Property Management Wales handles everything — council tax during voids, compliance, maintenance and tenant management — so you don't have to.
