Bailiffs at the door: what they cannot do and cannot take

Bailiffs — officially enforcement agents — must usually give you at least 14 days' notice of their first visit. You usually do not have to open the door, they cannot force their way in, and they cannot come between 9pm and 6am. Work tools and equipment worth less than £1,350 in total cannot be taken.

Why would a bailiff visit your home?

A bailiff may visit if you do not pay debts such as Council Tax bills, parking fines, court fines, and county court, high court or family court judgments. This happens if you ignore letters saying that bailiffs will be used.

ADV · A001ONLYWAY JEWELRY — gold, silver and platinumRings, chains, bracelets, earrings and pendants. Delivery across the UK.Advertise here

There are several kinds: certificated enforcement agents (also known as civil enforcement agents), high court enforcement officers, county court and family court bailiffs, and bailiffs who enforce magistrates' court fines and arrest warrants — either civilian enforcement officers or Approved Enforcement Agents. An Approved Enforcement Agent can arrest you if there is a warrant out for breaching a community penalty order.

A bailiff may also visit for another reason, such as serving court documents or giving notices and summonses. Scotland has a different process.

What are bailiffs not allowed to do?

You usually do not have to open your door to a bailiff or let them in. Bailiffs cannot enter your home by force, for example by pushing past you; if only children under 16 or vulnerable people (with disabilities, for example) are present; between 9pm and 6am; or through anything except the door.

There is one exception: bailiffs are allowed to force entry to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty — but only as a last resort.

If you do not let a bailiff in or agree to pay, they could take things from outside your home, such as your car, and you could end up owing even more money.

How do you check a bailiff is genuine?

Before you let a bailiff in or pay them, ask to see proof of identity such as a badge, ID card or enforcement agent certificate; which company they are from; a telephone contact number; and a detailed breakdown of the amount owed.

You can ask for proof even if they have visited before — ask them to put it through the letterbox or show it at the window. All bailiffs must have a certificate unless they are exempt or are with someone who has one. Anyone who claims to be a bailiff when they are not is committing fraud.

Check the register of certificated bailiffs, the list of high court enforcement officers, or contact the court that sent a court bailiff. If someone says they are an Approved Enforcement Agent, they should be from CDER Group, Marston Holdings Limited or Jacobs Enforcement.

What can bailiffs take, and what can they not take?

If you let a bailiff in, they may take belongings to sell. They can take non-essential items, for example a TV or games console.

They cannot take things you need, such as your clothes, cooker or fridge; work tools and equipment which together are worth less than £1,350; or someone else's belongings, such as your partner's computer. You will have to prove that someone else's goods do not belong to you.

How should you pay a bailiff?

You can pay the bailiff on the doorstep — you do not have to let them into your home. Make sure you get a receipt to prove you have paid. If you cannot pay it all at once, speak to the bailiff about repayment and offer what you can afford weekly or monthly. The bailiff does not have to accept your offer.

If you are a vulnerable person — for example you have mental health problems or are seriously ill — you may be able to get extra time to pay or to get debt advice.

How do you complain about a bailiff?

You can complain if a bailiff has broken the rules: threatening or harassing you, trying to break into your home without a warrant, charging incorrect fees, taking goods belonging to someone else, or taking essential items including things you need for work.

Complain both to whoever the bailiff works for and to the people you owe money to. If the bailiff is collecting for a council or Transport for London, complain to the council or TfL first, then to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if you are still unhappy. For a certificated enforcement agent you can submit an EAC2 form to the court where the agent is registered; the court can remove their certificate or order compensation. Complaining is free, but you may have to pay legal costs if the court decides there were no reasonable grounds.

Free debt help is available from Citizens Advice, MoneyHelper, National Debtline and StepChange Debt Charity.