Kensington and Chelsea Council Resumes Tax Collection After November Cyber Attack

In November 2025, Kensington and Chelsea Council suffered a cyber attack that halted council tax collection for four months. The attack compromised the council's systems, preventing the collection of payments and causing residents to accumulate debts ranging from £274 to £1,095. The council has now resumed tax collection as of March 2026, issuing approximately 26,000 bills and collecting over £12 million in payments. Support is being offered to residents struggling with the lump sum payments, and additional help is being provided to around 1,500 households identified as needing assistance. The attack also disrupted other council services, including planning permissions and housing benefits. The council's leader, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, expressed gratitude for residents' patience during the recovery process. The council aims to address the backlog of applications and ensure systems are fully operational.

Key Points: • Kensington and Chelsea Council was unable to collect council tax for four months due to a cyber attack. • Residents face lump sum payments ranging from £274 to £1,095 after the collection resumed. • The attack also disrupted other essential council services, including planning permissions and housing benefits.