Wednesday February 18th 2026
The extension will now run until March 2027
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Edinburgh is set for a projected 5% council tax hike from April, according to a draft budget for the coming year.
The increase would mean a band B property, the most common in the city, would go up to £1,094.46 per year, up from £1,042.34, excluding water and sewerage.
And the cost for a band H property, currently the highest band of council tax, will go to £4,022.13, an increase from £3,830.60.
The figure could change, as councillors are set to vote on amendments to the draft budget – prepared by city officers – at a special budget meeting next week.
While less than the punishing 8% hike Edinburgh ratepayers faced last year, the increase will still be above inflation.
Scottish Water also announced in January that water and sewer rates would go up from this April, with household bills to increase by 8.67%.
The finance convener of the city’s Labour administration said recently that fees and charges in the city would be frozen as much as possible in the coming city budget.
Councillor Mandy Watt told the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this month: “We recognise that fees and charges are real concerns for our residents in terms of living costs.
“This is why we’re looking to freeze as many of these as we can over the next financial year.”
Two new council tax bands are set to be added from April 2028 – Band I, for homes valued between £1m and £2m, and Band J for properties above £2m.
Last year’s rate hikes came amid a series of steep increases across Scotland, thought to be the highest in 20 years.
It came after the end of a nationwide council tax freeze announced by Holyrood, which ran between April 2024 and April 2025.
Increases according to draft budget (2025/26 to 2026/27, w/o water and sewerage)
Band A: £1,042.34 to £1,094.46
Band B: £1,216.06 to £1,276.86
Band C: £1,389.79 to £1,459.28
Band D: £1,563.51 to £1,641.69
Band E: £2,054.28 to £2,156.99
Band F: £2,540.70 to £2,667.74
Band G: £3,061.87 to £3,214.96
Band H: £3,830.60 to £4,022.13
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