- Council tax arrears rose by £782 million in 2025/26 taking total outstanding debt to £7.4 billion
- More than half of people needing debt advice do not know who to trust for financial help
- Ministers urged to adopt “everyday fixes” to prevent families spiralling into debt
Council tax arrears rose by almost £1,500 every minute last year as ministers face calls to stop struggling households being pushed deeper into problem debt ahead of the Budget.
Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found that unpaid council tax in England increased by £782 million in 2025/26, taking the total outstanding to £7.4 billion.
Households are now facing further increases in their bills. Average Band D…