Local authorities referred almost 600,000 people to bailiffs last year due to failure to pay council tax, according to a freedom of information request.
ITV News sent FOI requests to around 100 of the biggest councils in England.
The responses revealed that the total amount owed in council tax arrears has increased by over 70% in the past five years.
Last year, over one million people received a court summons because they were in council tax arrears and 600,000 people were referred to bailiffs.
The Local Government Association (LGA) told ITV News: ‘Enforcement agents should only ever be used as a last resort.
‘Before the situation reaches a stage where enforcement agents are involved, several letters should have been written, people should have been encouraged to apply for financial support, and efforts should be made to arrange new payment plans.’
If this article was of interest, then check out, Time to ban the use of bailiffs.
