Legal News

Islington Council in north London has announced that it is scrapping council tax for care leavers so that they will not fall into debt.

A Children's Society campaign has called on councils to make care leavers exempt from paying council tax until they turn 25 because care leavers have been shown to be at risk of accumulating debt after they leave care.

Islington Council's executive agreed to scrap council tax for young people leaving any local authority's care and living in Islington until the age of 25, with effect from April.

Islington is the second council in London – and one of the first in the country – to end council tax for care leavers.

Islington Council's executive member for finance and performance, Councillor Andy Hull, said:

“Young people leaving local authority care can face a huge range of challenges and we want to support them as much as we can. Care leavers are among the most vulnerable groups in our community – and we're pleased to scrap council tax for them until the age of 25, to help them as they start out as young adults.

The exemption will be made as easy as possible for care leavers to access – the council’s children’s services, housing and council tax teams will work together to apply the relief automatically for those leaving Islington's care; and will make it as simple as possible for those arriving in Islington from other councils' care to apply for the discount.”

Policy Director at The Children’s Society, Sam Royston, added:

“To expect some of the country’s most vulnerable young people to start paying council tax just days after leaving care is setting them up to fail.

That’s why The Children’s Society has been calling on local authorities – who take on parental responsibilities for children in care – to exempt those leaving care from paying council tax until they turn 25.

We’re delighted that Islington Council has taken this vital step to support care leavers – and we would urge other councils to follow their lead.”

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