Changes are on the way to help people who are struggling with missed council tax payments, as residents struggle with double digit rises amid a continuing cost-of-living crisis.

Part of the change will mean households in Wales will have 63 days to address missed council tax payments before enforcement action can be taken, when new rules come into force next April.

Currently, missing a council tax payment means people can become liable for the full annual bill if they don’t pay within seven days of receiving a reminder under outdated legislation.

The Welsh Government said the rule “doesn’t reflect the sympathetic approach councils in Wales already take when supporting households.”

Earlier this month, the Cambrian News revealed that council tax collection rates in Ceredigion are at an all-time low, with currently around five per cent of households in the county unable or unwilling to pay a council tax bill that has risen by more than 40 per cent in the past five years.

The Welsh Government said the changes “will give local authorities more time to engage with people to prevent debt escalating quickly.”

“There will also be clearer rules for reminder and final notices,” the Welsh Government said.

“These changes will give families crucial extra time to get support while ensuring councils can still act against those deliberately avoiding payment.

“It will deliver a fairer council tax system while maintaining effective collection of funds for essential public services.”

The move comes after a consultation, which had more than 250 responses from local authorities, advice organisations and members of the public.

A significant majority of those who took part in the consultation supported extending the minimum period to 62 days from one missed instalment to becoming liable for the remaining annual balance, as well as supporting other changes focused on prevention and better engagement.