Will I get any warning before a bailiff visit?
Bailiffs must send a letter before they visit you. It is called a ‘notice of enforcement’ (PDF) and will explain why they are visiting you. The letter will also ask you to get in touch with them and pay off your debt or agree to payment terms. If you do not reply, they will visit your home.
Bailiffs or ‘Enforcement Agents’ must follow a set process for collecting debt. There are lots of rules that set out their powers and your rights.
Some of these rules include:
- How they contact you
- When and where they can visit you
- What goods they can and cannot list to take
- How they behave towards you
- How they treat vulnerable people
When and where can bailiffs visit?
Bailiffs are most likely to visit you at home. But they can visit any place you live or run a business.
They can visit between 6am and 9pm, Monday – Sunday.
Read our guide to bailiff visits to find out more about what bailiffs can and cannot do.
What should I do when a bailiff visits?
They usually turn up to try and get payment for the debt or to make a list of goods they can take and sell to pay your debt off.
The bailiff might say you have to pay them on the doorstep or let them in. You don’t.
Do not let them into your home.
You should:
- Keep all doors, gates and garages locked
- Talk to the bailiff through a letterbox or on the phone
- Check their body-worn camera is on
- Ask for their ID and proof of warrant or writ of control
- Tell them if you are considered vulnerable
It is best to try and talk to the bailiff about payment arrangements to avoid them coming back. More visits from bailiffs will add more fees to your debts.
Tell them to leave if they cannot prove who they are. If they will not leave, tell them you are reporting them to the police.
What happens if I let a bailiff in?
They will start making a controlled goods agreement. This is a list of items the bailiff could take and sell to pay off the debt.
They will ask you to sign the agreement. This means you agree to repay the debt in a payment plan, and if you don’t your goods could be sold.
Find out more about controlled goods agreements and what bailiffs will do with your goods.
A bailiff does not need to be in your home to start taking control of some goods, like clamping your car if it is parked on the street or in your driveway.
If a bailiff tries to clamp or take a vehicle you are still paying for on hire purchase, tell them you are still under an agreement and the car is not yours. They should stop.
Can a controlled goods agreement be made without me?
No. A controlled goods agreement must be signed by the bailiff and you, or someone acting for you if you are considered vulnerable.
A bailiff cannot:
- Look in your window and make a list of goods inside
- Make an agreement alone and post it through the letterbox
What happens if I do not let bailiffs in?
They may return and try again.
Bailiffs may apply for a warrant to force entry if you keep refusing them. This is rare, and usually only applies to Magistrate Court and HMRC debts.
Bailiffs can apply for a warrant of control to force entry for CCJs, but only if:
- The judgment is related to a business address, or
- You moved controlled goods to another place to avoid them being taken
The people you owe may cancel the warrant if they do not think the bailiffs can get any money. This means they will not return to your home.
Can bailiffs force entry?
In most cases, no. A bailiff can only enter your house peacefully through a front or back door.
They must:
- Explain who they are
- Say why they are there
- Show their identification and warrant
- Turn their body-worn cameras on
Read more about dealing with bailiffs.
Can bailiffs force entry with a locksmith?
They are not allowed to:
- Break down your door
- Use a locksmith without a warrant to do so
- Ask the police to force entry without a warrant
They also cannot:
- Climb through window
- Push past you or push you out of the way
- Put their foot in the door to stop you closing it
- Lie about who they are or why they are there