Updated for 2026

Council tax support for low-income households in England has been shrinking for over a decade, and the situation continues to worsen. When the government abolished the national Council Tax Benefit system in April 2013 and handed responsibility to local authorities, the funding was cut by 10% from day one. Since then, councils under increasing financial pressure have steadily reduced the help available to their poorest residents.

By 2026, the picture is stark. The majority of councils in England require even the lowest-income households to pay at least some council tax, with minimum payments ranging from 5% to 30% or more of the full bill. Only a small number of authorities still offer full council tax support equivalent to the old national benefit. For hundreds of thousands of families already struggling with rising living costs, energy bills and food prices, this additional financial burden can be the tipping point into serious debt.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has consistently highlighted that council tax debt disproportionately affects the poorest households. Council tax is a priority debt, meaning local authorities have powerful enforcement tools at their disposal, including bailiff action, attachment of earnings and even committal proceedings. The consequences of falling behind are severe, yet the support to prevent arrears building up has only continued to shrink.

The council tax support landscape varies hugely depending on where you live. Some councils have introduced banded discount schemes, income-based taper models or hardship funds, while others offer very little flexibility. Understanding what your local authority provides, and what you might be entitled to, is the first step towards getting back on track.

If you are struggling with council tax payments, seeking advice early is essential. Council Tax Advisors can help you understand your rights, check whether you are receiving the correct level of support and negotiate with your council on your behalf. We can help arrange manageable repayment plans for arrears and advise on how to deal with bailiff action if it reaches that stage.

With household budgets under more pressure than ever in 2026, council tax advice is not a luxury. It is a necessity for the growing number of families who find themselves caught between rising bills and shrinking support.

When bailiffs turn up at your door over unpaid council tax, the stress of the situation is bad enough. But then you see the fees they are adding to your debt, and suddenly the amount you owe has jumped significantly. It raises an obvious question: are these charges actually legitimate?

The good news is that bailiff fees are not a free-for-all. There are strict rules, set out in law, that limit exactly what bailiffs (officially called enforcement agents) can charge. If they go beyond those limits, you have the right to challenge them.

This guide covers everything you need to know about bailiff fees for council tax debt in England and Wales, including the maximum amounts at each stage, what they cannot charge for, and what to do if you think you have been overcharged.

How council tax debt reaches the bailiff stage

Before bailiffs get involved, your council must follow a set process. Understanding this helps you see where fees fit in:

• Your council sends you a council tax bill and you miss one or more payments.
• The council sends a reminder, giving you seven days to pay.
• If you still do not pay, the council can apply to the magistrates’ court for a liability order. You will receive a court summons, and the council will add court costs (typically £50 to £150, depending on the council) to your debt.
• Once the council has a liability order, it can instruct bailiffs to collect the debt on its behalf.

It is only after a liability order has been granted that bailiffs can legally get involved. If someone claiming to be a bailiff contacts you without a liability order being in place, that is not right and you should seek advice immediately.

The three stages of bailiff enforcement

Bailiff fees for council tax debt are regulated by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014. The process is split into three stages, each with a fixed fee and, for larger debts, a percentage-based fee on top.

Stage 1: Compliance stage

This is the first stage. The bailiff sends you a letter (called a notice of enforcement) giving you at least seven clear days to pay the debt in full, including the compliance fee.

Fixed fee: £75

If the debt (including the compliance fee) exceeds £1,500, an additional 7.5% is charged on the amount above £1,500.

For most council tax debts, the total is under £1,500, so you will only pay the flat £75. This is added to whatever you owe in council tax plus any court costs.

Stage 2: Enforcement stage

If you do not pay during the compliance stage, the bailiff can visit your property. The moment they attend your address, the enforcement fee becomes payable, regardless of whether they gain entry or speak to you.

Fixed fee: £235

Again, if the debt (including both fees) exceeds £1,500, an additional 7.5% applies to the amount above £1,500.

This is where costs can escalate quickly. A council tax debt of £800 can become £1,110 (£800 + £75 + £235) once the enforcement stage is reached. That is a significant jump, and it happens simply because a bailiff visited your property.

Stage 3: Sale or disposal stage

If the debt remains unpaid after enforcement visits, the bailiff can take control of your goods and arrange for them to be sold at auction to cover the debt. This is the final stage.

Fixed fee: £110

Plus 7.5% on any amount above £1,500, and the bailiff can also pass on reasonable costs for removal, storage, and sale of goods.

In practice, it is relatively rare for council tax cases to reach this stage. Most are resolved through payment arrangements or at earlier stages. But if it does reach this point, the costs add up further.

Summary of maximum bailiff fees

Here is a clear breakdown of what bailiffs can charge at each stage:

• Compliance stage: £75 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500)
• Enforcement stage: £235 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500)
• Sale stage: £110 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500, plus reasonable sale costs)

For a typical council tax debt of £1,000, the maximum fees across all three stages would be £420 (£75 + £235 + £110), bringing the total to £1,420. That is a 42% increase on the original debt, which is why acting early is so important.

What bailiffs cannot charge for

Just as important as knowing what fees are allowed is understanding what bailiffs are not permitted to charge. The following are not legitimate charges:

• Multiple compliance fees: The £75 compliance fee can only be charged once per debt, not per letter or per visit.
• Fees for phone calls or texts: Bailiffs sometimes make contact by phone before visiting. They cannot charge you for these calls.
• Locksmith fees at the compliance stage: At the compliance stage, bailiffs have no right to force entry for council tax debt (more on this below), so locksmith charges should not appear.
• Invented administrative fees: Some bailiff firms have historically tried to add charges for things like “office fees” or “letter fees” that are not covered by the regulations. These are not lawful.
• VAT on top of the fixed fees: The regulated fees already include VAT. No additional VAT should be added.
• Fees for returning goods: If a bailiff takes control of goods and you then pay the debt, they should not charge you a separate fee to release the goods beyond what is already covered in the fee structure.

Can bailiffs force entry for council tax?

This is one of the most common questions people ask, and the answer is reassuring. For council tax debt, bailiffs cannot force entry into your home. They can only enter through a door that is already open or that you open for them. They cannot break locks, remove doors, or climb through windows.

The only circumstances where bailiffs have powers of forced entry are for criminal fines (imposed by a court for a criminal offence) and certain tax debts owed to HMRC. Council tax is a civil debt, and different rules apply.

If a bailiff threatens to break in or force their way into your home for council tax, that is unlawful. You should note their name, the company they work for, and the time and date, then make a formal complaint.

What to do if you have been overcharged

If you believe a bailiff has charged you more than the regulated fees allow, you have several options:

1. Check your paperwork carefully. Look at the notice of enforcement and any other letters or invoices. Compare the fees listed against the maximum amounts set out above. If anything does not add up, make a note of exactly what has been overcharged.
2. Complain to the bailiff company. All enforcement agents must have a complaints procedure. Put your complaint in writing, clearly stating which fees you believe are incorrect and why. Keep a copy of everything.
3. Complain to the council. Your local council instructed the bailiffs, so they have a responsibility for how the firm behaves. Write to the council’s revenues department explaining the overcharging and asking them to investigate.
4. Apply to the court. Under Regulation 16 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, you can apply to the county court for a detailed assessment of the fees charged. The court will review whether the amounts were lawful and can order a refund of any overcharges.
5. Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. If your council does not deal with your complaint properly, you can escalate it to the Ombudsman, who investigates complaints about councils and their contractors, including bailiff firms.

Vulnerable people and bailiff fees

If you are classed as a vulnerable person, bailiffs are supposed to follow additional guidelines. The Ministry of Justice guidance on vulnerability covers a wide range of situations, including:

• People with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
• People with physical disabilities or serious illnesses
• Elderly people
• Pregnant women or families with very young children
• People who have recently been bereaved
• People with learning difficulties
• People who do not speak English as a first language

If you fall into any of these categories, the bailiff should recognise your vulnerability and refer your case back to the council, often without charging enforcement fees. In practice, this does not always happen, which is why it is important to tell the bailiff about your circumstances clearly, ideally in writing.

If a bailiff has charged full enforcement fees despite being aware of your vulnerability, this is something you can and should challenge through the complaints process described above.

How to avoid bailiff fees altogether

The simplest way to avoid bailiff fees is to deal with your council tax debt before it reaches the bailiff stage. Here are some practical steps:

• Contact your council early. If you are struggling to pay, most councils will agree to a payment arrangement. The earlier you get in touch, the more flexible they tend to be.
• Check your entitlements. You may qualify for Council Tax Reduction, a single person discount, or an exemption that reduces what you owe.
• Respond to the summons. If you receive a court summons, attend the hearing or contact the council beforehand. Courts can sometimes adjourn the case to give you time to arrange payment.
• Pay the compliance fee promptly. If bailiffs have already been instructed, paying during the seven-day compliance period means you only face the £75 fee rather than the much higher enforcement fee.
• Seek free debt advice. Organisations like StepChange, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline offer free, confidential advice on dealing with council tax debt and can sometimes negotiate with councils on your behalf.

The bottom line

Bailiff fees for council tax are regulated and capped, but they can still add hundreds of pounds to your debt if you do not act quickly. The key figures to remember are £75 for the compliance stage, £235 for enforcement, and £110 for the sale stage, with percentage charges only applying to debts above £1,500.

If you are facing bailiff action over council tax, the most important thing is not to ignore it. Whether you need help understanding the fees you have been charged, want to challenge overcharging, or simply need support negotiating a payment plan with your council, getting advice early can make a real difference.

At Council Tax Advisors, we help people across England and Wales deal with council tax debt and bailiff issues every day. If you are worried about bailiff fees or enforcement action, get in touch with our team for guidance on your situation.

The bedroom tax, officially known as the Spare Room Subsidy or removal of the spare room subsidy, was introduced in April 2013 as part of wider welfare reforms. It reduces the amount of housing benefit you receive if you have a spare bedroom in your council or housing association home. Your housing benefit is cut by 14% for one extra bedroom, and 25% for two or more spare bedrooms.

This article was originally published in a previous year and has been fully updated for 2026 to reflect current legislation, figures, and guidance.

More than a decade on, the policy continues to affect hundreds of thousands of tenants across England and Wales. Many councils have reported that tenants hit by the bedroom tax are more likely to fall into rent arrears than those unaffected. For families already managing tight budgets, even a small cut to housing benefit can make the difference between keeping up with payments and falling behind.

The knock-on effect on council tax is significant. When your housing benefit is reduced, you have less money available for other household bills, including council tax. If you are already receiving Council Tax Reduction (formerly Council Tax Benefit), the bedroom tax does not directly affect that, but the financial pressure of paying more towards rent often means council tax payments get missed.

What can you do if the bedroom tax has left you in arrears?

If your housing benefit has been cut and you are struggling to keep up with rent or council tax payments, there are several steps worth considering:

• Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council. These are designed to help tenants who face a shortfall in their housing benefit.
• Check whether you qualify for Council Tax Reduction. Many councils offer additional support for people on low incomes.
• Contact your landlord or council as early as possible. Explaining your situation before debts build up can lead to more flexible repayment arrangements.
• Look into whether you can take in a lodger or use the spare room in a way that removes the deduction.
• Seek advice on whether a transfer or mutual exchange to a smaller property might be practical for your circumstances.

The most important thing is to act quickly. Ignoring arrears will only make the situation worse, and councils have enforcement powers that can escalate the costs you face.

At Council Tax Advisors, we help people who have fallen into council tax arrears, whether that is because of the bedroom tax, changes to benefits, or other financial difficulties. Our advisors can contact your council on your behalf to negotiate a manageable repayment plan and help prevent further enforcement action. If you are struggling, get in touch and let us help you find a way forward.

Council tax arrears are a growing problem across England and Wales, and can lead to serious consequences including enforcement agent visits and liability orders. For anyone already struggling financially, falling behind on council tax can quickly become one of the most stressful situations to deal with. But who is most likely to end up in council tax arrears, and what can you do to avoid it?

This article was originally published in a previous year and has been fully updated for 2026 to reflect current legislation, figures, and guidance.

Those most at risk tend to be people on lower incomes, particularly households affected by benefit changes over the past decade. The removal of the spare room subsidy (often called the bedroom tax) in 2013, combined with the shift from council tax benefit to localised council tax reduction schemes, left many families paying council tax for the first time. By 2025/26, councils across England collected over £40 billion in council tax annually, yet arrears continue to climb. Single-parent households, people on Universal Credit, and those in temporary or insecure work are disproportionately affected.

The pressures of rising living costs, higher energy bills, and stagnant wages mean more households than ever are having to choose between essentials. When council tax falls behind, local authorities can apply to a magistrates’ court for a liability order, after which enforcement agents (bailiffs) can be instructed to collect the debt. The fees added at each stage only make things harder to manage.

The good news is that help is available, and acting early makes a real difference. Your local council may offer a council tax reduction, a discretionary hardship fund, or a manageable payment arrangement. Citizens Advice and StepChange also provide free, confidential debt advice. If enforcement agents have already become involved, you still have rights, and there are rules they must follow under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.

If you are dealing with council tax arrears, do not ignore the problem. Reaching out for advice sooner rather than later can prevent the situation from escalating, protect your household, and help you regain control of your finances. Anyone can fall into council tax debt, but with the right support, it does not have to define your future.