Council Tax

The City of Edinburgh Council has suspended a plan to charge second home owners four times the standard rate of council tax, just weeks after it came into force. The pause, which lasts six months, follows legal advice and a series of representations from affected homeowners.

East Ayrshire Council has agreed a balanced budget for 2026/27, allocating £461 million to support services across the area. Councillors approved a 6.9% increase in Council Tax, bringing the Band D rate to £1,717.28. Despite the rise, it remains the lowest increase across Ayrshire. Membe

Dumfries and Galloway Council has approved its budget for the 2026/27 financial year, agreeing an 8.5% rise in Council Tax alongside a package of savings and investment measures. The budget was agreed at a full council meeting on Thursday 26 February, following consideration of detailed three-year p

Midlothian Council has announced a budget of £340.7 million for 2026/27, alongside a 9% increase in council tax to help protect essential services at a time of rising costs and increasing demand. To balance the budget, the council will use a mix of measures, including £4.093m from earmar

Local authorities may soon have the power to levy up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes if draft regulations before the Scottish Parliament are approved.

Potential changes to the council tax system could see those in the highest value properties asked to pay more if they can afford to. A joint consultation with COSLA is seeking views on plans to increase the amount paid by people in bands E, F, G and H. This aims to address criticism that the system