Catford Council Tax Guide: Bands, 2026/27 Charges and How to Pay

Who do I pay council tax to in Catford?

Everyone in Catford, Rushey Green, Bellingham and Hither Green pays council tax to the London Borough of Lewisham, which bills and collects it. The council's council tax page explains that it helps fund the services the council provides, and from 2026/27 offers online billing, with bills downloadable from your MyLewisham account instead of being posted.

What are the 2026/27 charges?

Every home is placed in a band by the Valuation Office Agency, based on its market value on 1 April 1991, not today's prices. The council's bands page publishes these annual charges for 2026/27:

Band	1991 value	Annual charge
A	up to £40,000	£1,491.56
B	£40,001 to £52,000	£1,740.14
C	£52,001 to £68,000	£1,988.74
D	£68,001 to £88,000	£2,237.33
E	£88,001 to £120,000	£2,734.52
F	£120,001 to £160,000	£3,231.70
G	£160,001 to £320,000	£3,728.89
H	over £320,000	£4,474.67

You can check your own band with the checker linked from that page. If you think the band is wrong, the council says disputes are handled by the Valuation Office Agency.

How do I pay?

The council's how to pay page lists these routes:

• Direct Debit, set up securely online. Frequencies include monthly (10 or 12 instalments), quarterly, weekly, half-yearly and yearly. Monthly payments can be on the 1st, 18th or 28th, and quarterly payments fall on 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January.
• Online payment by card.
• Phone, by debit or credit card on 020 8690 8707.
• Online banking, using the council's account details shown on the page.
• Post Office or PayPoint, using the barcode on your bill. Pay at least seven days before the due date so it arrives on time.

If you do not pay by Direct Debit, payments are due on the 1st or 15th of the month, with the 8th and 22nd available on request. Your My Lewisham account lets you track payments, and credits are confirmed within seven days.

What discounts can I claim?

The council's reductions and exemptions page says that if only one adult lives in the property, you may be entitled to a 25% discount. It also covers full-time students (who may be exempt or get a discount depending on who they live with), reductions for low-income households through Council Tax Support, reductions where a disabled occupant needs an extra room or adapted space, and discounts for carers, care leavers up to age 25 and apprentices (25%). Rules for empty properties are on a separate page linked from there.

The page links to the application routes for each discount.

What do I do when I move?

Tell the council through your My Lewisham account. According to the council's manage your council tax page, if you are new to Lewisham you register for council tax with the change of address form after you move in, and your account number follows. The account number is an 8-digit number that usually starts with a 4 or a 7. If you cannot find it, the page explains how to use the contact form (entering 77777777 if you have no number).

Where do I get help if I cannot pay?

The council has a section on problems paying. Contact the council early rather than waiting for a reminder; the main switchboard is 020 8314 6000 (automated, 24 hours). The council's offices are at Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU.