Rates are set to increase in a matter of weeks
17:37, 19 Mar 2026
Residents across Greater Manchester will see their bills rise(Image: Manchester Evening News / Kenny Brown)
Council tax bills will rise next month with every Greater Manchester borough affected – but one town hall is hiking its rates more than the rest. The bulk of local authorities across the country are set to increase their bills by the maximum amount usually allowed in April.
Councillors have been busy approving their budgets for the upcoming financial year at a series of meetings over the last month or so. It comes as Greater Manchester’s local authorities are facing very different financial puzzles.
While some councils have seen their financial position improve, others have been forced to make tough decisions in order to balance the books. Nine out of 10 Greater Manchester authorities confirmed a 4.99 per cent council tax increase.
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That figure is the top amount councils are usually able to increase their rates without the need for a local referendum. However, one Greater Manchester council is among a handful of councils across the country who have been given special permission to hike their rates further this year.
You can find out how much your bills will increase by using our interactive tool below, which includes every lower tier and upper tier council. Simply enter your postcode to see the increase by your council. The tool does not include police, fire, parish council or mayoral increases.
Trafford council will increase its council tax by 7.49 per cent. It’s the second year in a row that the authority has increased its rates by that amount, having previously said it needs a £20m loan to balance its books, or face declaring effective bankruptcy with a section 114 notice.
Nearby Warrington council has also been given permission to increase its council tax by 7.48 per cent amid significant financial challenges. Elsewhere, North Somerset and Shropshire residents will see a whopping council tax increase of 8.99 per cent. Worcestershire county council will be putting up bills by 8.98 per cent, while Windsor and Maidenhead council will increase its rates by 7.49 per cent.
On top of the regular council tax increases, the mayoral precept across Greater Manchester will increase by 19.4 per cent, meaning a typical band D home will pay £25 more. The precept includes funding for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.