Revealed: North East has one of the lowest council tax arrears debts

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Over 4.4 million council tax bills have gone unpaid, piling up a staggering £4.4 billion in debt – and forcing over one million people into the hands of bailiffs.

A survey by SellHouseFast.uk of local councils in England and Wales revealed that 1.8 million cases were referred to court for liability order issuance in 2022/23, rising to 2.1 million in 2023/24 – a 14% increase. Many of these cases are decided in bulk hearings, which critics describe as ‘secret courts,’ leaving debtors unaware of the proceedings against them.

With £164 in tax arrears, the North East has the second-lowest council tax debt, with only Wales owing less, at £140 million owed. In comparison, London and the South East lead the figures, with £905 million and £786 million in arrears, driven by higher property values in these regions. The North West follows closely behind, with £768 million in outstanding debt.

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In the North East, Durham County Council has the highest arrears, with £51.7 million, followed by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council at £41.9 million.

Regions of England and Wales by % increase in bailiff referralsRegions of England and Wales by % increase in bailiff referrals
Regions of England and Wales by % increase in bailiff referrals

On the lower end, Northumberland County Council has the smallest arrears at £6.2 million, with Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council and Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council also recording relatively low figures at £19.6 million and £9.6 million respectively.

Darlington Borough, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne City, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough, Stockton on Tees and Sunderland City Council didn’t respond.

Councils are increasingly turning to bailiffs, with referrals rising sharply by 21% – reaching nearly 1.3 million cases in 2023/24.

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Councils in the North East have seen a relatively modest 6% increase in bailiff referrals in 2023/24 compared to the previous year, which stands in sharp contrast to the larger rises observed in other regions.

Councils in the North East by total council tax arrears across all accounts as of the same dateCouncils in the North East by total council tax arrears across all accounts as of the same date
Councils in the North East by total council tax arrears across all accounts as of the same date

Councils in the East Midlands experienced the sharpest spike, with a 68% rise, followed by the West Midlands with a 58% increase. The East of England and South West saw increases of 27%.

For more information about this research visit: https://sellhousefast.uk/blog/Britains-Council-Tax-Debt/

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