Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: London boroughs follow the same Council Tax debt collection process as other English billing authorities: 7-day reminder, loss of right to instalments, court summons, liability order, then enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or charging orders.London boroughs face a particular set of pressures around Council Tax debt: high housing costs, large transient populations and significant numbers of residents on benefits or in low-paid work. Total London Council Tax arrears have risen in real terms over the past decade, alongside the rise in single person households and the squeeze on real incomes.
This article sets out the debt collection process every London borough must follow, the help that is available, and the differences between the boroughs in how they apply the rules within the legal framework.
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Band ranges set nationally in 1991. Enforcement procedures apply equally across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
The standard London Council Tax debt collection process
The framework comes from the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, which apply to every English billing authority. London boroughs cannot deviate from the framework, but they can choose how vigorously to pursue collection and what discretionary support to offer.
The sequence after a missed payment is: 7-day reminder; if not paid, the next instalment plus the missed one are both due; a second missed reminder cancels the right to pay by instalments and the whole year balance becomes payable; a 14-day final notice; a summons to the magistrates' court for a liability order; the liability order itself.
Once a liability order is in place the borough can use enforcement agents (formerly bailiffs), attachment of earnings, attachment of benefits, a charging order against the property, or (in extreme cases) committal to prison or bankruptcy proceedings.
Council Tax bands A to H in every London borough
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. every London borough then sets a Band D rate; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D.
Band A is 6/9ths of Band D, Band B is 7/9ths, Band C is 8/9ths, Band E is 11/9ths, Band F is 13/9ths, Band G is 15/9ths and Band H is 18/9ths. This ratio is fixed by central government and applies the same way in every London borough as it does in any other English billing authority.
To check your band, look up your address on the Valuation Office Agency search tool, or use the band shown on your annual bill. If you think the band is wrong because of evidence about your property in 1991, you have a narrow window to challenge it once you first move in.
Magistrates' courts and the liability order
London Council Tax summonses go to the magistrates' court covering the borough. The hearing is short: the magistrates must be satisfied that the bill was sent, that the amount is right, and that the resident is the liable person. The hearing does not consider ability to pay.
If you receive a summons, contact the borough urgently. A payment arrangement agreed before the hearing can sometimes lead to the summons being withdrawn or adjourned. Otherwise the liability order is normally granted, with court costs added on top of the debt.
The liability order does not by itself take any money from you. It is a precondition for the borough to use enforcement powers. The borough chooses which enforcement route to use, normally based on what is most likely to recover the money without excessive cost.
Help available for residents in London Council Tax arrears
The first source of help is Council Tax Reduction (or Council Tax Support in some boroughs) and any discretionary reduction scheme. Each London borough designs its own working-age scheme within the central government framework; pensioner schemes follow a national framework.
The Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) gives a 60-day pause on enforcement for residents in problem debt, plus a longer Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space for people receiving treatment for a mental health crisis. The Breathing Space applies to Council Tax arrears.
Free independent advice is available from Citizens Advice London, National Debtline and StepChange. Their advisers can speak to the borough on your behalf with your written authority, and can usually negotiate an affordable payment arrangement.
Differences between London boroughs in collection practice
While the framework is the same, boroughs vary in collection practice. Some are more willing to agree long-term payment arrangements before going to court; others move to court summons more quickly. Some use enforcement agents more readily than others; some have in-house collection teams that avoid the use of enforcement agents in most cases.
The London Councils group publishes occasional comparative analyses of collection rates and arrears levels across the boroughs. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (or its successor) publishes national Council Tax statistics that include London borough-by-borough collection rates.
If you are struggling with arrears, ask the borough what discretionary options exist before agreeing to a short-term arrangement that you may not be able to keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a London borough use bailiffs without going to court?
No. The borough must obtain a liability order from the magistrates' court before it can instruct enforcement agents (the modern term for bailiffs).
Does Breathing Space stop Council Tax enforcement in London?
Yes. During a standard Breathing Space (up to 60 days) enforcement is paused, including any active enforcement agent action. Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space lasts as long as the crisis treatment continues, plus 30 days.
What happens if I just ignore a London Council Tax summons?
The magistrates will normally grant the liability order in your absence. The order gives the borough powers to recover the debt without needing to come back to court. Engaging with the borough before the hearing usually produces a better outcome.
Can a London borough send me to prison for Council Tax debt?
In principle, yes, through a committal hearing at the magistrates' court, but only after enforcement agents have failed and only where the resident has the means to pay but is wilfully refusing. In practice committal is rare.
Where do I find independent debt advice in London?
Citizens Advice London, National Debtline (free phone line and webchat) and StepChange (free phone line and online advice) all offer free independent debt advice that covers Council Tax arrears.
How We Verified This
Enforcement sequence verified against the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 and the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Breathing Space verified against the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.
Sources
- gov.uk - Council Tax overview
- gov.uk - Council Tax bands and reductions
- gov.uk - Apply for Council Tax Reduction
- Valuation Office Agency - How Council Tax bands are set in England and Wales
- Valuation Tribunal England - Council Tax appeal procedures and decisions
- legislation.gov.uk - Local Government Finance Act 1992