Martin Lewis personally thanks Rayner after she makes crucial council tax change

"Thank you so much Angela Rayner for listening and more importantly acting."

This week, Rayner announced changes to how councils go after council tax when people miss a payment.

Lewis has previously raised concerns with how aggressive councils can be in chasing council tax, with councils able to take people to talk and send bailiffs in within less than two months of people missing a payment.

Councils can also ask for more money up front and add admin fees onto missed payments.

Lewis had raised the issue with housing secretary Rayner, who got to work on addressing the matter.

In June, Rayner announced changes to the system that would give people more time to pay missed payments and provide more support for those struggling.

The government confirmed that from April 2027, a 63 day breathing space scheme will be introduced, allowing people to get help and sort their finances out so they can meet council tax payments.

Lewis has now praised the government and thanked Rayner for the speed at which she has worked on the matter and enacted change.

In a post on X, he wrote: “When I met Angela Rayner to campaign for change to overly aggressive council tax debt collection, with its unprecedented rapid escalation to bailiffs, she nodded like most politicians do.

“I explained it was destructive for individuals, councils and the economy. She listened more then said she’d change it. I was sceptical.

“Yet a consultation was launched within weeks and delightfully the change announced within 18mths (it’s in place from next April) – bullet train pace for politics.

“I’ve a rule that if I campaign for a politician (of any party) to do something, and they do it, I say thank you. Its important to recognise it.

“So thank you so much Angela Rayner for listening and more importantly acting. The changes coming are a great start.”

Rayner herself had thanked Lewis for his “tireless campaigning” on the issue, along with the charity Money and Mental Health.