Lambeth forced to cough up more than £1million after bailiff visits
Bailiffs have knocked at Lambeth council’s offices four times over the past 12 months, demanding more than £1million in money owed.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed debt collectors turned up at Lambeth town hall and Lambeth civic centre to recover £1,013,495 between May 2021 and May 2022.
Most of the cash was demanded during a single visit by bailiffs to Lambeth’s offices.
The council was told to cough up £1,004,409.69 in money it allegedly owed on that occasion.
But enforcement officers left empty handed after a court set aside Lambeth’s debt – in effect cancelling it.
The bailiffs had more success on the three other times they turned up at council offices in the last year.
On these occasions Lambeth agreed to pay the entire amount demanded by the debt collectors.
Lambeth Council itself has sought the help of debt collectors to recover money owed to the local authority 1,504 times between 2017 and 2018 – the most recent period for which figures are available.
Lambeth Council has been contacted for comment.
Pictured top: Lambeth town hall
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