Ealing Council Tax Arrears — What Happens and Where to Get Free Help

The Enforcement Timeline

When you miss council tax payments in Ealing, the council follows a statutory enforcement process. Understanding where you are in this process determines what options you have.

Reminder notice — after one missed instalment, the council sends a reminder giving you seven days to pay the missed amount. If you pay within those seven days, your instalment plan continues as normal. If you miss another instalment after paying the first reminder, Ealing sends a second reminder, again giving you seven days to catch up. If you fall behind a third time, the full outstanding balance becomes due; if it remains unpaid, the council may issue a final notice and then a summons.

Final notice — this demands the full remaining balance for the year, not just the missed instalments. You lose the right to pay in monthly instalments once a final notice is issued.

Magistrates' court summons — if the full balance isn't paid, Ealing Council applies to the Magistrates' Court for a liability order. The summons tells you the court date. Ealing's 2026/27 fee schedule lists a £113.50 summons cost; a further £9 liability-order cost applies if an order is granted. You can still pay the full amount plus costs before the hearing date to stop the process.

Liability order — if the court grants one, the council gains enforcement powers: attachment of earnings (money taken directly from your wages), deductions from benefits, referral to enforcement agents (bailiffs), a charging order on your property, or in extreme cases, bankruptcy proceedings or committal to prison.

Enforcement agents (bailiffs) — once a liability order is granted, the council can pass the debt to enforcement agents. They'll add their own fees on top of what you owe.

Contact Free Debt Advice Immediately

If you're behind on council tax, this guide isn't the right tool. You need free, regulated debt advice from organisations staffed by specialists who can negotiate directly with the council on your behalf:

• StepChange — free online debt advice and payment plans: stepchange.org or call 0800 138 1111
• National Debtline — free telephone debt advice: nationaldebtline.org or call 0808 808 4000
• Citizens Advice — free advice on debt matters, with telephone and online advice available
• Ealing Advice Service — local advice consortium including Ealing Law Centre and Age UK Ealing, covering welfare benefits and council tax disputes

These services are free, confidential, and regulated. They can help you set up a manageable payment arrangement, challenge incorrect balances, and in some cases negotiate a write-off if you're in genuine hardship.

Can You Still Claim CTR if You're in Arrears?

Yes. Having council tax arrears doesn't prevent you from applying for Council Tax Reduction. If you qualify, the council applies the reduction to your current year's liability going forward. It won't wipe out existing arrears, but it will reduce what you owe from the date your claim is effective.

The critical point: Ealing's working-age scheme does not allow backdating. An award normally starts on the Monday after your claim is made or treated as made. If you've been eligible for months but haven't claimed, those past periods cannot be covered by CTR. Apply today — every week you delay is a week of reduction you permanently lose.

Payment Arrangements

Before a liability order is granted, contact Ealing Council's Local Tax and Accounts Receivable team to ask about a payment arrangement. Call 020 8825 7050. Ealing says it will try to agree a reasonable arrangement or temporarily hold a liability order while a discount or Council Tax Reduction entitlement is checked.

After a liability order is granted, Ealing sends an enforcement warning notice. If you cannot pay in full, follow its instructions and ask whether the council can accept an arrangement; it will confirm whether it can do so.

The Hardship Fund as a Safety Net

If your arrears are creating genuine crisis, check whether you qualify for Ealing's Discretionary Council Tax Discount under Section 13A(1)(c). This is separate from the main CTR scheme — it's a one-off or temporary reduction applied directly to your council tax account when you're facing severe financial hardship. Applications go through your My Account portal. There's more detail in our post on the Ealing council tax hardship fund.

Reduce Your Ongoing Bill First

The most practical thing you can do if you're struggling with council tax is to make sure you're claiming every reduction and discount you're entitled to. If you haven't applied for Council Tax Reduction, do it now. If you live alone, make sure you're getting the 25% single person discount. The Ealing Council Tax Reduction guide walks through the full application process and eligibility rules — but for existing arrears, contact one of the free debt advice services above first.

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