Debt Justice has submitted a response to the Modernising the Administration and Enforcement of Council Tax consultation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Our response, written with support from our community organising groups, highlights the injustice built into the council tax system, which traps millions of people on low incomes in debt. The harm done by the current system means people in council tax debt are more likely to be behind on housing payments, going without food and struggling with mental health problems.
While we welcome a number of proposed changes, we push the government to go further: giving people maximum time to engage, limiting fees and charges, taking a support-first approach and finally addressing the use of bailiffs by local authorities.