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Bailiff Guide: Know Your Rights & Protect Your Home (England & Wales)

THE GOLDEN RULE: You do not have to let a bailiff (enforcement agent) into your home. Keep doors and windows locked and do not invite them inside.

If you fall behind with certain debts, you may receive a Notice of Enforcement warning that bailiffs (also called
enforcement agents) may visit to collect payment. Don’t ignore the notice: once enforcement starts, fees can be added.
The good news is there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and resolve matters safely.

Practical rules to follow

1. Keep doors and windows locked. For most debts, bailiffs can only enter by “peaceful entry” through a normal unlocked door.
2. Do not invite them inside. Once a bailiff has been inside peacefully, it can change what they may attempt later.
3. Do not open the door. If you communicate, do so through a window, upstairs window, or letterbox.
4. Ask who they are and why they are there without opening the door. You can ask them to show ID and paperwork through a window or to post it through the letterbox.
5. Check the Notice of Enforcement. Bailiffs usually must give a Notice of Enforcement before visiting. If you did not receive it, say so and ask for the date/time it was issued and how it was sent.
6. Know the “7 clear days” rule. After a Notice of Enforcement, they must generally wait 7 clear days before visiting (this is not simply “7 calendar days”).
7. Stay calm and keep it short. You do not have to argue, negotiate on the doorstep, or let intimidation pull you into a confrontation.
8. Tell them you will deal with the office in writing. You can say: “Please leave. I will contact your office to discuss.”
9. Bailiffs cannot push past you or force a way in for most debts (including council tax, most parking debts, consumer debts, utilities).
10. Do not let them “just step inside” for any reason (to “talk”, “use the toilet”, “check something”). That is often how peaceful entry happens.
11. Close curtains and blinds. Bailiffs may list goods they can clearly see and later ask you to sign a Controlled Goods Agreement.
12. Do not sign a Controlled Goods Agreement unless you fully understand it and have taken advice. Signing can increase the risk of removal later.
13. Most of the time you do not have to prove who you are on the doorstep. You can refuse to provide personal information at the door.
14. If the debt isn’t yours, say so clearly. If they are chasing someone who does not live there, tell them and ask them to leave and correct their records.
15. Keep children and vulnerable people away from the door. If anyone in the household is vulnerable (illness, disability, pregnancy, mental health, elderly), tell the company in writing and ask for the case to be handled appropriately.
16. Bailiffs generally can’t take essential household items. There are protections for basic domestic needs (for example, bedding, clothing, cooker, fridge). (Exact exemptions depend on circumstances.)
17. “Tools of the trade” may be protected up to certain limits if you need them for work (exact rules vary). If this applies, document it.
18. Do not keep a vehicle on your drive if you can avoid it. Vehicles are commonly targeted. If the vehicle is on finance, a Motability vehicle, essential for disability, or not yours, gather proof quickly.
19. Do not assume parking “around the corner” is safe. In some cases, enforcement agents may clamp/remove a vehicle on the public highway if they believe it belongs to the debtor (rules and practicality vary).
20. If a vehicle is not yours, keep evidence handy (V5C/insurance/finance agreement/letter from owner). Tell the enforcement company immediately if they threaten to clamp it.
21. Bailiffs usually visit between 6am and 9pm. If someone turns up outside these times, record it and complain to the firm.
22. Visits are usually restricted on certain days (for example, Sundays and major holidays) unless a court specifically allows it. If they attend on a restricted day, ask the firm to explain the authority.
23. Forced entry is not the norm. For most debts, they cannot force entry. Forced entry is mainly relevant to criminal fines and certain HMRC debts, and must follow strict rules.
24. They cannot pretend to be someone they are not. Misrepresenting authority (for example, implying they are the police) is improper and should be complained about.
25. Police are not there to help bailiffs collect debt. Police may attend to prevent breach of the peace, but they are not supposed to force you to open the door for a civil debt.
26. If you feel threatened or unsafe, call the police. Use 999 for immediate danger; otherwise use 101.
27. Record the interaction if you can. Filming from your property is generally allowed. Keep recordings factual and safe.
28. Ask for a breakdown of fees. Bailiff fees are regulated. Request a written itemised statement.
29. Do not pay because of pressure at the door. If you intend to pay, do it calmly, ideally after confirming the debt and fees in writing.
30. Be careful paying the creditor directly. Sometimes a creditor may accept payment, but bailiff fees can still remain payable once enforcement has started. Always confirm in writing what happens to fees.
31. If you don’t owe the debt, act fast. Gather evidence (council letters, receipts, court documents) and contact both the creditor and enforcement firm in writing.
32. If you already paid, prove it. Send evidence immediately and demand enforcement stops while the account is investigated.
33. Do not rely on doorstep promises. Ask for everything in writing (email is fine). Keep copies.
34. Complain in the right order. Start with the enforcement company complaints process, then the creditor (they are responsible for agents they instruct), then escalate to the relevant ombudsman/complaints route if applicable.
35. Do not let them discuss your debt with neighbours. They should not disclose private details to third parties.
36. Don’t be tricked into “confirming” goods. Avoid chatting about what you own, where it is, or when you’ll be home.
37. Do not be bullied into a Controlled Goods Agreement. If you need time, say so and end the doorstep conversation.
38. If you need breathing space, seek advice immediately. For some debts and situations, formal debt solutions (and emergency court applications) may help, but timing matters.
39. If eviction is mentioned, check what process applies. Eviction usually relates to tenancy possession proceedings, not ordinary consumer debts. Get specialist housing advice quickly if eviction is threatened.

Bailiff fees (common structure)

Fees are regulated and are typically added in stages once enforcement begins. The common structure is:

• Compliance stage: £75 (usually added when the Notice of Enforcement is issued)
• Enforcement stage: £235 plus 7.5% of any debt amount over £1,500 (often added at the first visit)
• Sale/Disposal stage: £110 plus 7.5% of any debt amount over £1,500 (if goods are removed for sale), plus additional storage/auction costs where applicable

Tip: Always request an itemised fee breakdown in writing.

What to say through the door (copy/paste script)

Option A (short): “I am not letting anyone in. Please leave. I will contact your office in writing.”

Option B (if debt is disputed): “I dispute this debt. Please leave and put everything in writing. I will contact the creditor and your head office.”

Option C (vulnerability): “This household is vulnerable. Please leave. I require your office to place this account on hold while we seek advice.”

When to get urgent help

• You are being threatened, intimidated, or feel unsafe (call 999 if immediate danger; otherwise 101).
• The debt is for criminal fines or HMRC and they mention forced entry.
• Your vehicle is at risk of being clamped/removed.
• You have not received a Notice of Enforcement or believe the debt is not yours.
• You have serious vulnerability issues in the household.

FAQs

What does “peaceful entry” mean?

It generally means an enforcement agent enters through a normal entrance without using force, typically because a door was unlocked or they were invited in.

Can bailiffs force entry for council tax?

In most situations, no. Council tax enforcement normally does not allow forced entry into a home. (Other debt types, such as criminal fines, can have different rules.)

Do I have to speak to a bailiff?

No. You can choose not to engage at the door and instead contact the company in writing.

Can bailiffs take my things if I’m not home?

For most debts, they cannot force entry to get in. If they can’t get peaceful entry, they usually cannot remove goods from inside the home.

Important: This guide is general information for England & Wales and is not legal advice. Rules can differ in Scotland/Northern Ireland and can vary by debt type.