Every one of London’s local authorities is raising council tax for 2025/26, a shocking map has revealed.
Analysis by GB News has found almost every borough is raising council tax by the legal limit of 4.99 per cent, with Newham securing an 8.99 per cent rise.
It comes after Keir Starmer pledged to freeze council tax if his party won the election in a speech launching Labour’s local election campaign in March 2023.
With Wandsworth only raising council tax by 2.09 per cent, it means there is up to £135 difference between the rate increases across the nation’s capital.
EXPLORE: London Council Tax Rates 2025/26
EXPLORE: London Council Tax Rates 2025/26
EXPLORE: London Council Tax Rates 2025/26
GBN
The largest increase in the borough of Newham comes after Angela Rayner granted the cash-strapped council special permission to raise council tax by 8.99 per cent without the referendumthat is usually required for rises over 4.99 per cent.
It means Newham residents will be paying £155 more a year in council tax, raising their bills to £1,879 per year (average band D properties).
Other boroughs that are seeing the largest increases include Kingston-upon-Thames (£118), Croydon (£118), Harrow (£114) and Richmond-upon-Thames (£113).
Largest council tax increases (£) in London, 2025/26
Largest council tax increases (£) in London, 2025/26
GBN
In terms of which boroughs will be paying the most council tax, Croydon takes the top spot with an average bill of £2,485.02 for 2025/26, followed by Kingston-upon-Thames (£2,492.80), Harrow (£2,400.41) and Richmond-upon-Thames (£2,376.62).
Most expensive council tax (£) in London, 2025/26
Most expensive council tax (£) in London, 2025/26
GBN
At the other end of the spectrum, Wandsworth in south London is only raising council tax by 2.09 per cent, the lowest of all boroughs.
Smallest council tax increases (£) in London, 2025/26
Smallest council tax increases (£) in London, 2025/26
GBN
It means Wandsworth residents will be paying just £20.09 a year more, keeping the borough as the cheapest in London for council tax in 2025/26.
Wandsworth was followed by some of London’s most affluent areas in terms of cheapest council tax for 2025/26 with Westminster second (£1,021.62), City of London third (£1,278.66), Hammersmith & Fulham fourth (£1,455.97) and Kensington & Chelsea fifth (£1,584.28).
Least expensive council tax (£) in London, 2025/26
Least expensive council tax (£) in London, 2025/26
GBN
As well as significant rate rises, seven London boroughs will also receive Exceptional Financial Support loans totalling more than £418million for the next financial year.
These emergency borrowing measures have been criticised by London Councils who warn they place ‘a burden on boroughs of further debts’ without restoring financial stability.
London Councils, which represents the capital’s local authorities, says boroughs now receive about 28 per cent less funding per Londoner compared to 2010.
The umbrella organisation is calling for council funding to be restored to 2010 levels by 2028-29 which would require a real-terms increase of four per cent every year.
Councils have been scrambling to justify their rises for 2025/26, with most telling voters that statutory laws mean they have to provide certain services and care which is extremely expensive.
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However, critics say councils are wasteful and bloated and often employ senior executives on monster six-figure salaries with gold-plated pensions.
Brent council’s leader earns £220k a year – £50k more than the Prime Minister’s salary- for example.
This is in addition to six strategic directors who are paid £110,629 to £180,792, whilst the 13 operational director get £105,189 to £141,766 and 63 heads of services receive between £64,687 to £110,629.
The authority is hiking bills by £101 per year for residents.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said councils should “put taxpayers first and carefully consider the impact of their decisions”.
“That’s why we are maintaining a referendum threshold on council tax rises, so taxpayers can have the final say and be protected from excessive increases,” they added.
The Local Government Association, representing councils across England, highlighted that local authorities face “severe funding shortages and soaring cost and demand pressures on local services”.
They said councils had to make a “tough choice” about increasing bills to bring in “desperately-needed” funds.
“However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone,” the spokesperson added.
“The Spending Review needs to ensure councils have adequate funding to deliver the services local people want to see.”
RANKED: Council tax increases across London (rates for average band D property)
Newham
Council tax increase – £155
New council tax rate – £1,879.36
Kingston-upon-Thames
Council tax increase – £118
New council tax rate – £2,492.80
Croydon
Council tax increase – £118
New council tax rate – £2,485.02
Harrow
Council tax increase – £114
New council tax rate – £2,400.41
Richmond-upon-Thames
Council tax increase – £113
New council tax rate – £2,376.62
Havering
Council tax increase – £110
New council tax rate – £2,318.10
Waltham Forest
Council tax increase – £108
New council tax rate – £2,282.19
Sutton
Council tax increase – £108
New council tax rate – £2,274.27
Bexley
Council tax increase – £108
New council tax rate – £2,262.58
Haringey
Council tax increase – £105
New council tax rate – £2,212.48
Redbridge
Council tax increase – £104
New council tax rate – £2,194.15
Enfield
Council tax increase – £103
New council tax rate – £2,168.55
Lewisham
Council tax increase – £102
New council tax rate – £2,139.68
Brent
Council tax increase – £102
New council tax rate – £2,137.65
Camden
Council tax increase – £100
New council tax rate – £2,110.90
Barking & Dagenham
Council tax increase – £100
New council tax rate – £2,102.69
Hounslow
Council tax increase – £99
New council tax rate – £2,090.36
Merton
Council tax increase – £99
New council tax rate – £2,092.85
Barnet
Council tax increase – £97
New council tax rate – £2,040.01
Bromley
Council tax increase – £97
New council tax rate – £2,047.00
Ealing
Council tax increase – £97
New council tax rate – £2,045.56
Islington
Council tax increase – £96
New council tax rate – £2,016.36
Greenwich
Council tax increase – £96
New council tax rate – £2,016.19
Hackney
Council tax increase – £94
New council tax rate – £1,971.05
Lambeth
Council tax increase – £93
New council tax rate – £1,958.49
Hillingdon
Council tax increase – £93
New council tax rate – £1,956.92
Southwark
Council tax increase – £89
New council tax rate – £1,882.45
Tower Hamlets
Council tax increase – £84
New council tax rate – £1,759.12
Kensington & Chelsea
Council tax increase – £75
New council tax rate – £1,584.28
Hammersmith & Fulham
Council tax increase – £69
New council tax rate – £1,455.97
City of London
Council tax increase – £61
New council tax rate – £1,278.66
Westminster
Council tax increase – £48
New council tax rate – £1,021.62
Wandsworth
Council tax increase – £20
New council tax rate – £981.23