What can bailiffs take when they visit you?

What can bailiffs take from your home?

A bailiff can take things you own to sell if you do not pay a debt. They can also take things you own jointly with someone else. But some goods are protected and cannot be taken by a bailiff.

Bailiffs can take things like:

• Vehicles
• Electrical items
• Jewellery

TV shows make it look like bailiffs take everything, but that is not the case. They will only want to take and sell items that will make enough money to pay off your debt.

You do not have to let a bailiff in your home unless they have a court warrant. Read our top 10 tips for dealing with bailiffs to put your mind at ease.

What are bailiffs not allowed to take?

Bailiffs cannot take:

• Things that belong to other people, including the things your children own
• Pets, guide dogs and emotional support animals
• Tools or computer equipment you need for your job or study, up to a total value of £1,350
• Motability vehicles or a vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge
• Things you have bought on hire purchase, if the last payment has not been made
• Fixed furniture that will damage the house when removed, like kitchen units and fitted wardrobes

Can bailiffs enter your house when you are not there?

Bailiffs can enter your home if the door is unlocked or someone inside lets them in.

They cannot enter if the door is locked and cannot force their way in by using their body to block the door or push past people.

Bailiffs must not enter if the only people inside are:

• Vulnerable adults
• Children under 16 years old

Make sure your doors are fully locked when you leave your house. Ask anyone you live with to not let bailiffs in the door when you are out.

Know your rights: Read our guide to stopping bailiffs from entering your home.

Can bailiffs take my car?

A vehicle is often a bailiff’s first target because they are easy to find and sell on. They can also take it when you are not home.

They can tow it away or clamp it. But only if it is parked at your home or on a public road.

Bailiffs cannot clamp or remove your vehicle if:

• It has a valid Blue Badge or is a Motability vehicle
• It is clearly used by a disabled person
• You need it for your job and it is worth less than £1,350, like if you are a taxi driver
• The vehicle is used in a ‘logbook loan’ and you have not made the last payment
• It is your main home, like a camper van, caravan or houseboat

Can a bailiff take a hire purchase vehicle?

Some bailiffs may argue that they can take a hire purchase vehicle. The rules are complicated and can be understood in different ways.

Usually bailiffs have no right to take vehicles still owned by the company you have a finance agreement with. Such as:

• Hire purchase
• Personal Contract Plan (PCP)
• Conditional sale

These vehicles are not fully owned by you until you have made the last payment to the finance agreement.

What should I do if a bailiff is trying to take or clamp my hire purchase car?

You can look up your vehicle on the HPI check website and show the bailiff to prove you are still paying for your vehicle.

If the bailiff still tries to take or clamp the vehicle, make an official complaint stating the car belongs to the hire purchase company, not you.

You need to:

• Complain immediately in writing
• Send the letter to the bailiff company
• Send the same letter to the creditor who sent the bailiff
• Keep a copy of your letter for yourself

You should also send a copy of the letter to the right regulator or ombudsman. This might be the Financial Ombudsman or the Local Government Ombudsman.

Search our list of ombudsman and trade bodies.

What is a controlled goods agreement?

The bailiff will make a list of what things to take if you do not pay the debt. Once they are added to the list, the bailiff has legally ‘taken them into control’.

The list they make is called an inventory.

You can stop them taking your goods into control by paying off the debt. If you cannot do this, you can ask the bailiff to set up a repayment plan. They will most likely ask you to sign a controlled goods agreement. This is you agreeing to the repayment plan.

There are three steps you should take to make a controlled goods agreement.

1. Check the list of items

• Ask the bailiffs to write the model, make and colour of anything they put on the list
• Tell them to cross off anything they are not allowed to take
• If they list anything that is not yours, ask them to write down you don’t own it or to take it off the list
• You will need to prove it is not yours

2. Agree a repayment plan

• Use our handy budgeting tool to help you work out how much you can afford to pay
• Make an offer to the bailiff that you can keep to and show them your budget
• Do not let the bailiff push you into agreeing to repayments you cannot afford, they are not supposed to do this
• If they do, you can complain to The Enforcement Conduct Board

3. Check the agreement is correct

Make sure the agreement shows:

• Your correct name and address
• The correct amount of debt you owe
• Any fees that the bailiff has added – check what fees bailiffs charge
• The amount you agreed to pay in a repayment plan, and how often you will pay it
• The list of goods the bailiff has taken control of

If you feel hassled into making an agreement or a repayment plan you know you cannot afford, you can complain about the bailiff.

What will bailiffs do with my goods?

The bailiff has four options to deal with your goods after they have listed them on the inventory:

1. Leave them with you so you can keep using them

This is what usually happens. When you sign the controlled goods agreement, you agree to make payments for the debt. You can keep using your belongings, but the bailiff can come back and take goods on the list if you do not pay.

Here is an example of a controlled goods agreement (PDF) you may be asked to sign.

2. Remove your goods straight away and sell them

They often threaten this. But:

• It costs them more money to do this
• It is not usually their first choice

3. Clamp your vehicle on a public road or at your property

They cannot do this on someone else’s property without a court warrant. They must leave a warning on the vehicle with a phone number you can call to arrange payment.

Do not remove the clamp or move the vehicle. This is illegal.

You will normally have extra fees added to your debt when a vehicle is clamped. Read more about bailiff fees and costs.

4. Lock up your goods on your premises

This is more common with business debts. They can lock up goods in cupboards, rooms, garages or outbuildings.

It is unlikely they will do this when they are taking control of goods at your home.

After the goods have been listed, the bailiff must give you written copies of the following documents:

• The agreement made between you and the bailiff
• Receipts of any payments made to them
• The inventory of goods
• A signed controlled goods agreement
• A list of any fees added to your debt

Can I hide my goods from bailiffs, or sell them?

Sometimes your belongings can be made ‘bound’ when your creditors employ a bailiff, or when a court warrant is given. This means you are not allowed to hide or sell them.

The notice of enforcement letter the bailiffs send you will tell you if your goods are bound and what you cannot do with them.

Here is an example of a notice of enforcement letter (PDF).

If you try to hide your belongings or avoid the bailiffs, it could make things worse. So, it is a good idea to speak to the people you owe money to when you get the letter.

Worried about how to deal with bailiffs? We can help

Worrying about what bailiffs can take is a sign you need help with your debt.

You are not alone. We help people with the same worries every day.

Take a couple of minutes to answer a few simple questions to get the right support for you. Our debt advice tool is free to use.