Trafford's band A to H charges for 2026-27, why the 7.49% rise was 7.97% on the bill, and how the borough compares with the rest of Greater Manchester.
Trafford put council tax up by 7.49% this year, above the 4.99% ceiling that normally triggers a referendum, because the government granted it exceptional financial support and let it add 2.5% on top.
The bill on the doormat went up by more than that. Here is the full table, and the arithmetic the council does not set out.
Checked on 26 August 2026.
Band A to H charges for 2026-27
Bands are set on what a property was worth on 1 April 1991, not what it is worth now. Charges from Trafford’s property bands page.
| Band | 1991 value | Charge 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,526.51 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,780.95 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,035.34 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,289.79 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,798.61 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,307.45 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,816.29 |
| H | Over £320,000 | £4,579.58 |
This is the charge for Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon, Timperley, Sale, Stretford and Urmston. Three parished areas pay more, and they are set out further down.
The rise was 7.49%. The bill rose 7.97%
The 7.49% headline is the increase in Trafford’s own share of the bill. It breaks down as 2.99% basic, 2.00% for the adult social care precept, and 2.50% agreed by the government following a request for exceptional financial support (council tax increase). Councillors set it at the meeting of 5 March 2026.
But the council also collects for the Greater Manchester mayor, and those precepts rose faster. At band D:
| Element | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trafford Council, including adult social care | £1,721.59 | £1,850.54 | +£128.95 (+7.49%) |
| Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner | £270.30 | £285.30 | +£15.00 |
| Mayoral General, including Fire Service | £128.95 | £153.95 | +£25.00 |
| Total band D | £2,120.84 | £2,289.79 | +£168.95 (+7.97%) |
Sources: Trafford’s Council Tax Facts and Figures 2026-27 and Council Tax Booklet 2026-27 for this year’s split, and MHCLG’s Table 10 for last year’s mayoral figures.
Within Trafford’s £1,850.54, the accumulated adult social care precept accounts for £298.30 and the rest of the council’s services for £1,552.24.
Trafford is the second cheapest borough in Greater Manchester
Only one of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs charges less. Area average band D for 2026-27, from MHCLG Table 10 (published 25 March 2026), which is the only figure comparable between authorities because it includes every precept:
| Borough | Area average band D |
|---|---|
| Stockport | £2,618.90 |
| Oldham | £2,602.23 |
| Rochdale | £2,600.83 |
| Salford | £2,594.45 |
| Bury | £2,555.15 |
| Tameside | £2,447.21 |
| Bolton | £2,399.74 |
| Manchester | £2,312.04 |
| Trafford | £2,291.70 |
| Wigan | £2,152.68 |
Trafford is 30th of the 37 metropolitan districts in England, so eighth cheapest of that group. A band D household in Stockport pays £327.20 more than one in Trafford, which matters if you are house-hunting across the Trafford and Stockport boundary.
MHCLG’s £2,291.70 is £1.91 above the council’s own £2,289.79 because MHCLG averages the parish precepts across the whole borough. Both figures are right.
Partington, Carrington and Warburton pay more
Three parished areas add a local precept on top. Partington sits in the M31 postcode area covered by this site.
| Band | Standard | Partington | Warburton | Carrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,526.51 | £1,572.04 | £1,559.84 | £1,546.51 |
| B | £1,780.95 | £1,834.07 | £1,819.84 | £1,804.28 |
| C | £2,035.34 | £2,096.05 | £2,079.78 | £2,062.01 |
| D | £2,289.79 | £2,358.09 | £2,339.79 | £2,319.79 |
| E | £2,798.61 | £2,882.09 | £2,859.72 | £2,835.28 |
| F | £3,307.45 | £3,406.11 | £3,379.67 | £3,350.78 |
| G | £3,816.29 | £3,930.12 | £3,899.62 | £3,866.29 |
| H | £4,579.58 | £4,716.18 | £4,679.58 | £4,639.58 |
At band D the parish element is £68.30 in Partington, £50.00 in Warburton and £30.00 in Carrington.
Partington Parish Council voted to raise its precept by 5% at its meeting of 10 December 2025, under minute reference P1270, citing rising costs of service provision, utilities, maintenance and community support (Partington Council Tax Precept 2026-27). Parish precepts are not capped by the referendum rules that apply to the borough.
Checking and challenging your band
Trafford does not set your band. The listing officer at the Valuation Office Agency does. Look yours up free on the GOV.UK council tax band checker, which also shows neighbouring properties, and challenge it there if you think it is wrong or the property has changed.
One point the council is clear about: while a challenge is outstanding you must keep paying the instalments on the bill you already have. If the challenge succeeds you get a refund of the overpayment (challenge your band).
Discounts and exemptions
- Single person discount: 25% off if you are the only adult aged 18 or over living there as your main home. You must tell the council if another adult moves in for more than six weeks, or if someone in the house is about to turn 18 (single person discount).
- Students: an all-student household is exempt, but only if everyone supplies a student certificate. If certificates are missing for anyone, a full bill is issued. Halls of residence are normally exempt. A student living with non-students is not liable, though the others are (student exemption).
- Council Tax Support helps households on low incomes. You apply online and may need evidence of identity, earnings and housing costs (support scheme).
- Discounts also exist for annexes, job-related second properties, disabled relief, carers and disregarded persons (all discounts).
Empty homes and second homes are expensive here
Trafford’s premiums, in force since 1 April 2025, are among the steeper ones (premiums on empty properties). The figures are the total charge, so 200% means double.
| Empty for | Empty home (unfurnished) | Second home (furnished) |
|---|---|---|
| One year or less | 100% | 200% |
| One to five years | 200% | 200% |
| Five to ten years | 300% | 200% |
| More than ten years | 400% | 200% |
A second home is charged double from day one. At band D that is £4,579.58 a year. An unfurnished property empty for more than ten years pays four times the standard charge, £9,159.16 at band D.
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