Updated for 2026

Flooding remains one of the most devastating events a homeowner can face, and council tax disputes only add to the stress. A landmark case from 2014 set an important precedent that still benefits flood victims across England and Wales today.

The case that changed everything

During the severe winter floods of 2013/14, thousands of people across southern England were forced to leave their waterlogged homes. Many found themselves paying council tax on both their temporary accommodation and their uninhabitable permanent property.

A couple from Pulborough in West Sussex faced exactly this situation. Their home had been flooded on Christmas Eve 2013, and their insurance company advised them to leave due to health and safety concerns after suffering three feet of floodwater. Despite this, Horsham District Council only granted them a 25 per cent discount for 30 days.

After more than four months in temporary accommodation, the couple challenged the council and won their battle to reclaim the full council tax payments they had made on their flooded home.

The government response

Following this case and others like it, the government announced an extension of council tax discounts to anyone unable to return to their home because of flood damage. This set the framework that councils across England and Wales still follow when dealing with flood-affected properties.

Horsham District Council defended their original stance, stating the 25 per cent discount was given “before guidance on the 100 per cent flood relief scheme had been passed to the council.” The overpayment was eventually repaid in full.

Your rights if your home is flooded in 2026

If flooding forces you out of your home, you should be aware of the following:

• You may be entitled to a council tax exemption (Class G) if your property is unoccupied and prohibited by law from being occupied
• If the property is simply uninhabitable, you can apply for a Class A exemption for major repair work, or request a discretionary discount from your council
• You should not have to pay full council tax on an empty, flood-damaged property while also paying for temporary accommodation
• Contact your council’s revenues department as soon as possible after being displaced, and put everything in writing
• If your council refuses a discount, you have the right to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England (or the Valuation Tribunal for Wales)

Lessons for council tax payers

This case highlights how important it is to challenge your council if you believe you are being overcharged. Councils do not always apply discounts automatically, and many homeowners miss out simply because they do not know what they are entitled to.

Whether you are dealing with flooding, a property left empty after a bereavement, or any other situation where you think your council tax bill is wrong, it is always worth seeking advice.

Council Tax Advisors (CTA) provides independent help and guidance on all council tax matters across England and Wales. If you are in a dispute with your council or believe you are paying too much, get in touch today.

Updated for 2026

The pressure of keeping up with council tax payments can be stressful, particularly given the ongoing cost of living squeeze affecting people up and down England and Wales.

You would think that paying regular instalments would be enough to keep the threat of enforcement agents from your door, but this was not the case for 72 year-old Ann Delaney of Prestwich, Greater Manchester.

The disabled pensioner complained about the conduct of a Birkenhead-based firm of enforcement agents, who sent her a series of late-night letters demanding an additional council tax bill of £255, despite the fact that she had managed to reduce her debt from £1,000 to £50 by making regular payments.

She was twice sent letters by the debt collectors, contracted to work as enforcement agents by Bury Council, after 10pm, leaving her feeling intimidated and powerless to do anything until the following morning. It is even claimed that the enforcement agents went as far as walking into her house and noting down what valuables she had in her possession.

An outraged Ms Delaney, who suffers from arthritis and severe back pain, said of her ordeal: “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

“Fortunately I complained to the council and they cancelled the £255 payment and I have nearly settled my account.”

It was a change in personal circumstance that saw Ms Delaney fall into council tax debt, and since then she had been working to pay it off steadily.

However, enforcement agent involvement over the £255 bill resurfaced when they claimed the pensioner was four days late with a payment.

Ms Delaney remains adamant that she had successfully negotiated a repayment plan with the council, adding: “I paid every week without fail.”

What are your rights when enforcement agents visit?

Under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014, which still govern enforcement agent conduct in England and Wales in 2026, there are strict rules about how and when enforcement agents can visit your property. They must carry formal identification, hold a valid county court certificate, and provide full details of the debt they are collecting.

Enforcement agents cannot force entry into your home for council tax debt on their first visit. They can only gain peaceful entry, which means walking through an unlocked door. If you do not let them in, they cannot break in.

If you feel an enforcement agent has acted improperly, you have the right to complain directly to your local council. Councils are required to review any action or fees if the circumstances warrant it.

Vulnerable residents deserve extra protection

Cases like Ms Delaney’s highlight the importance of vulnerability policies. Councils and enforcement companies across England and Wales are expected to follow the Local Government Association’s guidance on identifying and supporting vulnerable residents. If you have a disability, long-term illness, or mental health condition, enforcement action should be paused while your situation is assessed.

With council tax bills rising again in 2026, more households may find themselves struggling to keep up. If you fall behind, contact your council as early as possible to arrange a payment plan before the debt is passed to enforcement agents.

Get help with your council tax arrears

There is independent help and advice available if you are struggling with your council tax arrears or are concerned about enforcement agent action over unpaid council tax. Council Tax Advisors have helped thousands of people across England and Wales resolve their council tax issues, so do not hesitate to get in touch if you find yourself in a similar position.

Updated for 2026

With council tax bills rising sharply across England and Wales in 2025/26, more homeowners than ever are questioning whether they are in the correct council tax band. That makes cold calls promising a rebate sound tempting, but they are almost always a scam.

Reports to local trading standards teams continue to highlight firms cold-calling residents, claiming they have been placed in the wrong band and offering to get them moved to a lower one. These callers often fail to mention they charge a fee, and some use aggressive tactics to arrange home visits.

How the scam works

A caller, usually from an unregulated private company, contacts you out of the blue. They claim your property is in a higher council tax band than it should be and promise a guaranteed rebate. In reality:

• No private company can guarantee a band reduction
• They have no connection to your local council or any government body
• The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is the only organisation that decides council tax bands in England and Wales, and its service is completely free
• Challenging your band could actually result in it going up, not down

How to check your council tax band for free

You can check your council tax band yourself at no cost through the VOA website at gov.uk/council-tax-bands. If you believe your banding is wrong, you can challenge it directly with the VOA. There is no need to pay a third party to do this for you.

Warning signs to watch for

• Unsolicited phone calls or doorstep visits about your council tax band
• Claims of a “guaranteed” rebate or band reduction
• Pressure to sign up or provide personal details on the spot
• Suggestions that the caller works on behalf of the council or government
• Requests for upfront fees before any work is done

What to do if you are contacted

Do not engage with unsolicited callers. Hang up the phone and report the contact to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website. If someone turns up at your door, do not let them in or hand over personal information.

If you need genuine help understanding your council tax, whether that is checking your band, querying a bill, or dealing with arrears, the team at Council Tax Advisors is here to help. We offer free, practical guidance on all council tax matters across England and Wales and have helped thousands of people get the right advice.

The bottom line: never pay someone who contacts you out of the blue promising council tax savings. Use the free official channels or speak to a trusted adviser instead.

Updated for 2026

Council tax has been a growing burden on households across England and Wales for decades, and the question of which political parties are responsible for the steepest rises remains as relevant today as ever.

Research originally compiled by the House of Commons library found that between 1997 and 2010, eight out of ten councils with the highest council tax increases were Conservative-led. Huntingdonshire topped the list with a staggering 537% rise, while Wandsworth (also Conservative) had the lowest increase at 17%. On the other side, Labour controlled eight of the ten councils with the lowest rises during that same period.

Council tax rises since 2010

Since 2010, councils across England have continued to push bills upward. The introduction of the adult social care precept in 2016 gave local authorities additional power to raise council tax above the standard referendum threshold, and many have used it. Between 2010 and 2026, the average Band D council tax bill in England has risen by well over 60%, outpacing both inflation and wage growth for much of that period.

Regardless of political control, councils have faced significant funding pressures. Central government grants have been cut substantially, pushing local authorities to rely more heavily on council tax income. The result is that households in almost every area of England and Wales have seen year-on-year increases, with bills for 2025/26 reaching record levels in many parts of the country.

What does this mean for you?

The political party running your council is only part of the picture. Funding formulas, local demographics, social care costs and central government policy all play a role in determining how much you pay. What matters most is whether your bill is correct and whether you are receiving all the discounts and exemptions you are entitled to.

Many households are paying more council tax than they need to. You could be eligible for:

• A council tax band reduction if your property is in the wrong band
• Single person discount (25% off) if you live alone
• Council tax reduction (formerly council tax benefit) if you are on a low income
• Exemptions for students, carers or people with severe mental impairment
• A repayment arrangement if you have fallen behind on payments

Free help with council tax

If you are struggling with council tax arrears or worried about enforcement action, Council Tax Advisors can help. We offer free advice on reducing your bill, challenging your band, applying for discounts and setting up affordable repayment plans with your council.

You do not need to face this alone. Contact us today to find out what options are available to you.

Updated for 2026

The bedroom tax, officially known as the spare room subsidy, continues to disproportionately affect households in the North East and North Yorkshire more than a decade after it was first introduced. Originally highlighted in a landmark study by Oxfam and the New Policy Institute titled ‘Multiple Cuts for the Poorest Families’, the policy has left a lasting mark on some of England’s most vulnerable communities, and the situation in 2026 remains deeply concerning.

When the policy was introduced in 2013, it required social housing tenants deemed to have a ‘spare’ bedroom to pay a reduction in their Housing Benefit: 14% for one extra room and 25% for two or more. Across the North East alone, 28,000 of the poorest households were immediately affected, losing around £12.80 per week on average. At least 3,000 households lost £20 or more each week.

What has changed since 2014?

The bedroom tax remains in place across England and Wales in 2026. While Scotland effectively abolished it by providing Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to cover the shortfall, tenants in England have no such blanket protection. DHP funding in England has been cut repeatedly since its peak, meaning fewer households can access help to cover the gap.

Council tax support has also been squeezed further. Since the national Council Tax Benefit scheme was abolished in 2013 and replaced with localised Council Tax Reduction schemes, many councils have reduced the level of support available. In some areas, working-age residents on the lowest incomes must now pay at least 20% of their council tax bill, on top of the bedroom tax deduction from their housing benefit. The combined effect pushes families deeper into debt.

The ongoing impact on families

For job seekers, carers, single parents and disabled residents across the North East and Yorkshire, the bedroom tax creates an impossible choice: find money that simply is not there, or fall into arrears. Many affected tenants cannot downsize because smaller properties are not available in their area. Others face leaving communities where they have lived for decades, separating from support networks and schools.

Food bank usage, which was already described as a “national scandal” by North Durham MP Kevan Jones back in 2014, has continued to rise sharply. The Trussell Trust reported record demand across the North East in 2025, with benefit deductions and debt cited as leading causes.

Council tax arrears and the bedroom tax connection

One of the less discussed consequences of the bedroom tax is its knock-on effect on council tax payments. Households already stretched by the bedroom tax deduction often fall behind on council tax as well, leading to court summons, enforcement action and bailiff visits. Council tax debt is a priority debt in England and Wales, meaning local authorities have strong powers to recover it, including the use of enforcement agents.

If you are struggling with council tax arrears, whether caused by the bedroom tax, reduced council tax support or other financial pressures, it is important to know your rights. Councils must follow strict rules when pursuing debt, and you may be entitled to a reduction, an exemption or a manageable payment arrangement.

How Council Tax Advisors can help

Council Tax Advisors offers free help and guidance for anyone dealing with council tax debt in England and Wales. Our team can help you understand your options, check whether you qualify for a council tax reduction, advise on your rights if bailiffs have been instructed, and help you set up a realistic repayment plan.

You do not have to face council tax debt alone. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your family get back on track.

Updated for 2026

When the government localised council tax support back in 2013, replacing the old national Council Tax Benefit with locally run Council Tax Reduction schemes, it came with a funding cut of around 10%. That decision shifted the burden directly onto some of the most vulnerable households in England, and more than a decade later, the consequences are still being felt.

Councils across England were left to design their own schemes, and many chose to require working-age residents to pay at least a portion of their council tax, regardless of income. By 2026, the picture has not improved. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Policy in Practice has repeatedly shown that millions of low-income households are still paying council tax they cannot realistically afford.

The knock-on effect is predictable: missed payments, court summonses, and bailiff enforcement. Local authorities in England issue well over two million court summonses each year for unpaid council tax. Hundreds of thousands of cases are referred to enforcement agents, with bailiff fees adding hundreds of pounds to already unmanageable debts. For someone on a tight budget, a single liability order can spiral into a crisis.

It is worth remembering that council tax collection does not follow the same rules as most other debts. Councils can skip straight to enforcement action without a county court judgment. Once a liability order is granted by the magistrates’ court, the council can instruct bailiffs, make deductions from benefits or wages, or even apply for a committal hearing. The speed at which this escalates catches many people off guard.

Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are disproportionately affected. Despite some protections under the Equality Act 2010, many councils still apply minimum payment requirements that do not account for the additional costs of living with a disability. The abandonment of a single national scheme means that your level of support depends entirely on your postcode.

There are options available if you are struggling. You may be entitled to a Council Tax Reduction through your local authority, a discount for single occupancy, or an exemption if your circumstances qualify. If bailiffs have already been instructed, you still have rights: enforcement agents must follow the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, and there are strict rules about when they can visit, what they can take, and how fees are calculated.

Council Tax Advisors can help you understand where you stand. Whether you need to challenge a council tax band, apply for a reduction, dispute bailiff fees, or negotiate an affordable payment arrangement, getting the right advice early makes a real difference. You do not have to wait until enforcement action begins.

If your council tax feels unmanageable, that is not a personal failing. It is the direct result of policy decisions that reduced support for those who need it most. But there are routes through it, and you do not have to navigate them alone.