Response to Scottish Government’s Review of Joint and Several Liability for Council Tax Debt

Aberlour Children’s Charity, Financially Included and Scottish Women’s Aid welcome the findings of the Review into Joint and Several Liability for Council Tax. 

In particular, we welcome the clear commitment to prevent victim-survivors of domestic abuse from being held liable for council tax debts and arrears that result from that abuse. Domestic abuse disproportionately affects women and children, and 95% of women who experience domestic abuse also experience economic abuse, including through coerced debt and financial control.

This is an important step towards securing economic justice for those women and towards tackling the public debt crisis that too often traps children and families in poverty.

Reforming how Scotland responds to debt and arrears linked to coercion, control and abuse is essential to creating a country where women and girls can live free from violence and oppression in all its forms.

As these changes are taken forward, we urge the Scottish Government to ensure that arrangements for identifying, assessing and alleviating council tax debt linked to domestic abuse protect victim-survivors, prevent re-traumatisation, and are trauma-informed and non-stigmatising.

Meaningful engagement with victim-survivors, alongside the organisations that support and represent them, will be crucial to the successful implementation of this reform. Their voices, experiences and expertise must be central to shaping how these changes are delivered in practice.

We acknowledge and thank the women who have raised their voices and shared their stories to help drive this change to improve outcomes for victim-survivors now and in the future.