Whilst the words ‘London’ and ‘cheap’ are very rarely found co-existing in a sentence, the beloved borough of Wandsworth has long stood as a tiny shred of hope that not everything in the capital city has to come with a price-tag that resembles the cost of a mortgage. But unfortunately, that could soon be about to change.
The south London borough (which is home to the likes of Battersea Power Station, Tooting Market, and the Clapham Grand) has historically held the title of having the lowest council tax in the country. And earlier this year, despite being one of five London authorities that were given the opportunity to hike up their council tax costs by however much they saw fit, Wandsworth Council confirmed that it would be freezing its rates for the fourth year on the trot. It’s now looking highly likely, however, that the same will not be said for a fifth year running.
Following a ‘comprehensive spending review’, Wandsworth Council recently announced its plans to nearly double its council tax rates from April 2027. This is due to cuts in government funding putting the borough in a position to lose around £84 million per year (which was the very reason why Wandsworth was given permission to raise its council tax rates above the 5% limit in the first place).
Wandsworth Council have announced that unless the government reconsiders these drastic cuts, the levy on Band D properties in the borough could increase by a rather eye-watering 94%. This would be a record-breaking rise (potentially the biggest that Britain has ever see), seeing the current cost soar by a staggering £958.
Peter Graham, deputy leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “Council tax will need to rise unless Government thinks again. And it must think again.”
He continued: “We do not want to do this, and we do not take this decision lightly, but the scale of the financial pressure facing Wandsworth means additional income is now needed to protect the services people rely on.
“Residents should not be left to carry the cost of an unfair funding system. That is why we are fighting hard at the heart of Government for a fairer deal for Wandsworth, and why we have made a clear case ahead of the Autumn Budget that our borough should not be punished for running efficient services and keeping council tax low.
“Our message to residents is clear: we are on your side, we are making your case, and we will keep fighting for the funding Wandsworth deserves.”
