Can they take my house from me for council tax arrears?

I owe council tax which is minorly partly due to admin error few year ago, im on benefits but own my house. It has not ever been used as security deposit for any loans, can they take it from me- for owing about two thousand? Its gone past the bailiff stage.

I live in the uk

You should talk to your local citizens advice beureaux.
They should be able to help you. Number should be in the phone book

no they cant take your House but phone em Cos they put det collectors on to u Hun

if you are on benefits cant you get council tax befit to help you pay it? or cant you just get a loan for $2k, pay it off then try to pay off loan with your benefit? or go to court and say you will pay then 拢10 each week for the next few years? or they can take a portion directly out of your benefits? get a home equity loan?

As one who has had to sit and listen to a wide range of excuses over the years to people who have not paid their council tax, I'm not very sympathetic. Now that I'm no longer involved I can true fully say that I wish that the authorities had stronger powers to recover taxes. Look at how many 拢million have had to be written off today because of all the artful dodgers.

They can't 'take it', but they will put a lien on it, and when you eventually sell it - however long that may be - (Or even die and leave it to someone) they'll take their money first. By that time, of course, due to the miracle of compound interest, cumulative penalties and late charges, the amount will be many, many times what it is now.

Richard

What State

to switched on
you are right there are many many dodgers who do not want to pay and will do anything to avoid the authorities but let me assure you as one who was in a professional job for forty yrs and had to retire at 58 because of illness I have worked since leaving school at 16 in fact worked part time for 2 yrs BEFORE leaving school, now I am receiving a small pension which is taxed at 22% I am living on 拢400pm after tax and do not get help from anywhere although I am able to claim council tax benefit the tax people are constantly sending me mail the W&P are on my back and my reward for over forty yrs work is jack ****.Like you I used to think people on benefit were ALL scroungers the past 2 yrs had taught me a valuable but painful lesson a lot are lazy but there are some who are genuine the trouble is those in authority do not have the training or the personal compassion to differentiate between the honest ones and the dishonest ones.Maybe like me they need a taste of life on the other side to see that it is not as easy as it seems.like most things the genuine ones are treated with the same contempt as the dishonest ones.My advise however to the Q is get in touch with the council and be completely open frank and honest.

Do Americans have "council tax"?
No.
Sorry... : )
Answer to your question...
No, I don't think so......

Normally the answer would be that they cannot take your house but the ultimate penalties for failing to pay your council tax are severe. I am not trying to frighten you but the very last stage is that you can be taken to court and the court will identify if you are in the category "won't pay" or "can't pay".

If you "won't pay" then you will probably be imprisoned and, when you get out of prison you will still owe the money.

If you "can't pay" then you may be made bankrupt and the costs of the process added to your debt. Your 拢2k debt could easily rise to 拢20k (due to the council's legal fees) and does not get wiped out as a result of bankruptcy. If you were made bankrupt then your house could be at risk!

Go and see your local Citizens Advice Bureau for help immediately - before it's too late to take any action to avoid these outcomes. The usual approach would be to try to come to an agreement with the council about a repayment plan.

No they cant take your house but its very late to be asking for help at this stage as once Courts and Bailiffs become involved the costs escalate.

Contact the Office and sort out a payment plan, as your on benefit there is every chance you have nothing of value for them to take, but they can take items instead of money so its important to reach a figure you can afford and pay it, every week otherwise your TV or microwave could end up being sold to repay the debt.