Got post-coronavirus council tax worries? You’re not alone

Last updated 20th July.

If you’ve had changes in circumstances due to coronavirus and you’re concerned about paying your council tax, you’re far from the only one – and you don’t have to deal with it on your own. Here’s the situation right now.

A lot of people are behind on their council tax

Around 800,000 UK households, in fact.

In April, the government temporarily banned bailiffs from visiting homes to enforce debts during lockdown. But from 23 August, those visits can start again.

The government has said it expects councils to be ‘sympathetic’. But with £700 million owed in council tax since the start of lockdown – in many cases to councils who are at risk of going bankrupt themselves – many people are worried about what’s going to happen when the bailiff ban lifts.

Financial support if you’re struggling with council tax

If your circumstances have changed due to coronavirus and you need help to pay your council tax, you might be entitled to Universal Credit, Council Tax Support and/or other financial help. To find out what support you’re entitled to, use our free, independent benefit checker.

What do I do if a bailiff turns up?

If you’re struggling with your council tax, please let us know. Missed council tax payments can have serious consequences that last a long time. Your council could take you to court, send bailiffs, and/or even have money deducted straight from your wages or benefits. Give us a call and we can help you look at your options.

But if a bailiff does visit your home, it’s good to know your rights. (NB: the information in this post is applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has Sheriff Officers instead of bailiffs, and they don’t have as many powers – but if you’re a Scottish customer struggling with your council tax, you should still let us know as soon as you can.)

Councils must go to court to apply for the power to send a bailiff to your home. This means a visit from a bailiff shouldn’t come as a surprise. They must send a notice of enforcement letter to give you at least seven or more working days’ notice that they’ll be coming. If you’ve got a letter that says ‘notice of enforcement’, ring us for advice straightaway.

If a bailiff comes in, they’ll list the things in your home that they could sell to pay off the debts. They’ll usually get you to sign this list, then leave and come back later. When they come back, they’re legally allowed to use force to enter, and to take the items on the list with them.

So remember – the first time a bailiff visits for a council tax debt, you don’t have to let them in. But don’t panic! Just get in touch with us immediately.

Don’t forget the bailiffs could come back when you’re not there. So:

• Make sure doors and windows are locked
• Tell anyone else who lives at your address knows not to let the bailiffs in either
• See Can bailiffs take my car? if you have a car parked outside or nearby.

Your council tax debt will most likely go up once bailiffs have visited. So, although we hope the tips above are useful if you ever need them, we also hope you never need them! If you’re struggling with council tax debt, it’s important not to bury your head in the sand. Whatever debt solution you’re on, we know your council tax takes priority – so just let us know what’s going on, and we’ll be able to help.

 

We’re posting regular updates for customers on our website so please keep checking for more information. We also update our Facebook page regularly, so please follow us there too. We are also on Twitter.