Rates

Payment of rates should be one of your main priorities, as local authorities have unusual rights that private companies don’t have when it comes to debt recovery.

Councils have the rights to attach the rates liability to the property in which you live (assuming you own that property), and generally the council will issue a notice to any secured creditors you may have to force them to pay the debt, when you default.  

Clearly this can have implication on whether you reach the terms of any mortgage that you have, which could lead to repossession and sale of the property, at which point any arrears due to the council, are paid in priority to your secured lender.

If you are disabled, live alone or have a low income, it is worth checking if you qualify for remission or reduction of property rates penalties, or are entitled to a property rates rebate, which is determined by reference to your total household income, and the number of dependents that live in the property, amongst other things.