# UK council tax arrears hit £7.4bn as households face rising bills

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/unpaid-council-tax-bill-arrears-soar-to-record-7-4billion-as-families-struggling-with-cost-of-living-are-hit-with-hikes-of-up-to-nine-per-cent/
- Published: 2026-10-25T01:50:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16236521/Unpaid-council-tax-bill-arrears-soar-record.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Council tax arrears hit a record £7.4 billion.
- Arrears rose £782 million in a year.
- Bills and energy costs are adding pressure on households.

## Summary

Unpaid council tax arrears in the UK have reached a record £7.4 billion, with the Centre for Social Justice reporting a £782 million rise over the past year. The figures highlight growing pressure on households already facing higher living costs and come ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget.

Band D council tax bills rose by £111 to £2,392 in April, while some local authorities imposed larger increases, including 8.98 per cent in Worcestershire. Household energy bills rose by four per cent this month, adding about £60, and are forecast to rise further. The article also reports that Healey is expected to borrow more to meet higher debt interest and welfare costs, while considering tax changes and support measures.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.