Budget brings a £100 energy payment for Band A to D homes in January

Households in Council Tax Bands A to D will get a £100 Household Energy Payment from January 2027, one of the measures in the government’s Autumn Budget. Brighton & Hove City Council^1,2 has listed the key announcements for residents in Brighton & Hove.

The council’s announcement does not say how the payment will be made. Council leader Bella Sankey said the council would “look carefully at the detail”.

The removal of VAT on electricity will be extended to July, and gas standing charges will be abolished from 2027, according to the council’s summary. The 5p cut in fuel duty stays, and the planned inflation rise is put off until July 2027.

The £2 bus fare cap outside London continues for a further year, throughout 2027.

The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage go up by 3.9%. The council said the change would bring “disproportionate benefits to the city given our large hospitality industry”.

Most of the housing money is national. There is £430m more for rough sleeping, and £1.5 billion more for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is expected to deliver around 10,000 homes in England, with priority for Social Rent and council homes. A further £4.7 billion goes on a new Your First Home equity loan scheme and a First Time Buyer ISA.

For businesses, there is a £1.9 billion business rates support package for retail, hospitality and leisure in 2027/28. The Trading Allowance triples from £1,000 to £3,000. A new £125 million Derelict Buildings Fund will go to community buildings, and another £65 million will help save buildings and businesses at risk of closure, such as pubs and sports clubs.

The Budget also gives more funding to the new Strategic Authority for Sussex and Brighton. That includes retained business rates, a share of income tax, new growth funding and the potential for a visitor levy from 2028.

Sankey said: “The £100 energy payment, cheaper bus fares and an increase in the minimum wage will make a real difference to many residents facing continued cost of living pressures.”

On businesses, she said the council would be “looking closely at the opportunities the Budget provides to support our independent shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure businesses.”

Anyone who needs help with bills before January can find the council’s Community Hub and emergency support for food and energy costs on its financial advice page.