A Chiswick man is facing the loss of his home after a judge has ruled that his property can be seized to pay off a debt of more than £6,000.

The bankruptcy order, made in Slough County Court came after Hounslow Council employed a specialist legal team. The man had not paid Council Tax for several years and if he does not pay up, his home will be seized, auctioned off and the proceeds used to pay off his debt.

The Council are seeking to make an example of him to encourage other deliquent payers to cough up more quickly. Cllr. Gerald McGregor, the Council’s executive member for finance, said: “The message is clear. If people do not pay Council Tax, we have powers that enable us to get it one way or the other. Every penny lost in non-payment impacts on our ability to deliver services, so immediately affects all law-abiding residents.”

The Council say that in this case, officials had no alternative but to take this course of action because the individual consistently refused to pay, even though he allegedly admitted he could afford it. The Council claims to make every effort to reach suitable arrangements over debt repayment but warns that it will be tough on persistent defaulters and will not hesitate to take action against any non-payers. This is not the first time the Council has taken this course of action.

If residents are having difficulty paying Council Tax, they can call 020 8583 4242 for advice.

January 26, 2007