The cost of living crisis has left millions struggling to keep up with essential bills.
Nationally, council tax arrears have reached record levels, 4.4 million people are now in debt, over a million more than last year, and 50% of people in council tax debt live in poverty.
This has gone hand in hand with an increase in the use of bailiff referrals. Council tax debt is now the largest debt collected by private bailiffs in the UK. These visits are leaving people traumatised, pushing already vulnerable people further into hardship, and adding additional fees to people’s debts.
Citizens Advice research found that 64% of people who come into contact with a bailiff experience harassment and intimidation.
No one disputes that councils need funding. But demanding money from people who don’t have it wont solve this problem, it only causes harm. The current approach is pushing residents in poverty to breaking point, undermining their health, wellbeing and their trust in local services.
Pledge now, to ban the bailiffs for council tax collection
My pledge:
As an elected councillor, candidate or local representative, I recognise that rising living costs have left many residents struggling, and that council tax debt has grown significantly in recent years. Local authority reliance on bailiffs has proven counterproductive, traumatising residents and leaving many deeper in debt than before.
I therefore pledge to:
– Support ending bailiff use for council tax debt collection in my ward, within my local authority and nationally
– Advocate for a fairer debt collection policy, or duty of care, that ensures people in debt receive support, not enforcement
– Raise the issue with my party
For more information on why its important to take the pledge, please see our councillor specific briefing here.