Unpaid Council Tax

Breathing space

Breathing Space legislation came into force in 2021 and gives someone in problem debt the right to legal protections from their creditors. Council Tax and Business Rates (sole traders only) are considered problem debts among others.

There are two types of breathing space:

Standard Breathing Space

Available to anyone with problem debt. It gives them legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days. The protections include pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors and freezing most interest and charges on their debts.

Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space

Only available to someone who is receiving mental health crisis treatment and has some stronger protections. It lasts as long as the person's mental health crisis treatment, plus 30 days (no matter how long the crisis treatment lasts).

Anyone who cannot or is unlikely to be able to repay their debts can apply to a regulated debt advice provider for standard breathing space.

Although all applications must be considered, the debt adviser might decide breathing space is not appropriate for a debtor.

In addition to the debtor, other people can apply to a debt adviser on behalf of a debtor for a mental health crisis breathing space, such as:

  • The debtor’s carer or their representative
  • Approved mental health professionals, mental health nurses
  • Social workers
  • Independent mental health advocates or mental capacity advocates appointed for the debtor

You will need to enter into discussions with a regulated debt advice provider.

Runnymede Borough Council does not provide regulated debt advice. However, the following organisations are able to provide this service:

Get in touch about Council Tax arrears

If you are struggling to keep on top of your Council Tax payments please contact us as we could offer options that can help your circumstances.

Council Tax related pages