Kensington and Chelsea Council Approves Council Tax Support Scheme Expansion, Affecting Notting Hill Household Budgets

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council voted on July 7 to expand the council tax reduction scheme by raising the income threshold for eligibility from £18,000 to £22,000 for single residents and from £27,000 to £33,000 for couples. The change takes effect from April 2027 and applies directly to properties in Notting Hill wards.

Why the measure reached the agenda now

The council's budget papers for 2026-27 record a 4.8 per cent rise in the number of residents claiming discretionary housing payments over the past twelve months. Officers attributed the increase to higher energy and food costs recorded in the Office for National Statistics consumer price index for London. The July 7 meeting considered the scheme adjustment as one line item within the overall revenue budget.

Notting Hill residents who qualify will receive a reduction of between 25 per cent and 80 per cent on their annual council tax bill, depending on income and household size. A single person living in a Band C property currently paying £1,452 per year could see that amount fall to £725 if their income sits just below the new threshold. The scheme covers the difference from the borough's general fund rather than from central government grant.

Next steps for implementation

Applications open on 1 October 2026 through the council's online portal and local libraries. The finance department projects that processing the first wave of claims will require an additional three temporary staff for six months, funded within the existing £2.1 million allocation for benefits administration. Residents already receiving the reduction will be reassessed automatically when their current award expires.

Further council meetings scheduled for September will review uptake figures and any required adjustments to the discretionary fund. The legislation states that the scheme remains subject to annual budget approval by full council.