Council tax rises West London: what the Hammersmith plan means for Richmond

Council tax rises West London are making headlines as Hammersmith and Fulham weighs increases of up to 150% to fill a £160m budget gap. While Richmond upon Thames operates under separate financial pressures, the choices your neighbouring borough makes will shape the wider conversation about local government funding across south west London. What happens in Hammersmith often signals what other councils are watching closely.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is consulting on council tax rises of 100%, 125%, or 150% as government funding drops to less than half within four years.

What Hammersmith and Fulham is proposing

The cabinet report sets out three options, all substantial.

Under the largest proposal, a Band D bill in Hammersmith and Fulham would reach £2,522.50 a year before the Greater London Authority precept is added. Council officers estimate the borough faces a £160m budget gap, driven by falling government grants and rising service costs. The council leader has stated that protecting services comes first, a position that reflects the difficult arithmetic facing London boroughs as central funding continues to decline.

The consultation marks a turning point for a borough that has long balanced ambitious service delivery with relatively modest tax bills.

Why this matters for Richmond residents

Richmond upon Thames is not proposing similar increases, but neighbouring decisions shape your council's options.

When one borough makes a bold move on taxation, it changes the political landscape for others. Richmond upon Thames faces its own funding pressures, including demand for adult social care, children’s services, and maintaining the parks and green spaces that define the borough’s character. How Hammersmith residents respond to their consultation will be watched closely by councillors and officers across the river. If residents accept steep rises in exchange for service protection, it may embolden other authorities. If they reject the proposals, councils may look harder at efficiency savings and service redesign.

Your council's budget decisions later in 2026 will be shaped in part by what unfolds in Hammersmith now.

What this means for you

Keep an eye on Richmond upon Thames Council’s budget consultations, which typically run in late winter. While your council is not proposing anything close to Hammersmith’s figures, understanding the financial pressures facing all London boroughs helps you engage more effectively when Richmond does consult on its own council tax and service plans. If you receive services from both boroughs, perhaps through shared arrangements or because you live near the boundary, the Hammersmith consultation may directly affect you. You can track Richmond’s budget process through the council website, and most budget meetings are open to the public.

The Hammersmith proposals are a test case for how far London boroughs can push council tax before residents push back. For Richmond residents, the story is one to watch rather than one that demands immediate action, but it offers a useful window into the choices your own council may face in the months ahead.

Richmond upon Thames has historically maintained lower council tax levels than many neighbouring authorities, a point of pride for residents who value both services and financial prudence.

Frequently asked questions

Is Richmond upon Thames proposing a council tax rise like Hammersmith's?

No. Richmond upon Thames has not proposed any council tax increase comparable to Hammersmith and Fulham’s options. Your council sets its own budget and council tax independently, though it faces similar pressures around government funding and service demand.

Which council am I in, Richmond or Hammersmith?

If you live in areas such as Richmond, Kew, Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton, St Margarets, East Sheen, Mortlake, or Barnes, you are in Richmond upon Thames. Hammersmith and Fulham covers areas including Hammersmith, Fulham, and Shepherd’s Bush. Your council tax bill will state which authority you pay.

When will Richmond upon Thames set its council tax for 2026?

Richmond upon Thames typically sets its council tax in February or early March each year. The council runs public consultations on budget proposals in the weeks before, and you can attend budget meetings or submit your views through the council website.

Why are London councils facing such large funding gaps?

Government funding to local authorities has declined significantly over the past decade, while demand for services, particularly adult social care and children’s services, has grown. Councils must either raise more money locally through council tax, cut services, or find efficiencies. Most are doing all three.

Useful resources

• Check which council you pay tax to