Bailiffs in England and Wales: notice, fees and what they can take

Since 1 May 2026, bailiffs (enforcement agents) must give 14 clear days' notice, and their fixed fees have risen. This guide explains the stages, the fees, the goods that are protected and where to complain.

What bailiffs are and when they are used

A bailiff, formally called an enforcement agent, is someone authorised to collect certain debts by taking control of a debtor's goods, which means listing items and, in the end, selling them at auction. Typical debts include unpaid council tax once a court has granted a liability order, magistrates' court fines, parking penalties and some court judgments. The process is set out in Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and in regulations made under it. A bailiff may take control only of goods that belong to the debtor, and only up to what is needed to cover the debt and the costs.

This guide covers England and Wales. Scotland has a different system run by sheriff officers, and Northern Ireland has its own rules, so neither is described here. The figures below were read on the official legislation pages on 18 October 2026 and apply to the 2026/27 tax year, although the fees are not tied to the tax year.

Notice: what changed on 1 May 2026

Before a bailiff can take control of goods, the debtor must be sent a notice of enforcement. Regulation 6 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 used to require seven clear days, meaning whole days not counting the day the notice is sent or the day of the visit. From 1 May 2026 it is 14 clear days. Enforcement action taken before that date is not affected. The notice has to say that free debt advice is available and how to request more time.

If a debt advice provider asks on the debtor's behalf before the notice period ends, the minimum period is extended to 28 clear days. This extension does not apply to what the regulations call non-eligible business debt. A court can order a shorter period only if it is satisfied that goods are likely to be moved or disposed of to avoid enforcement.

The fees from 1 May 2026

Bailiff fees are fixed by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 and are charged in three stages. For ordinary enforcement (not High Court), the schedule as revised from 1 May 2026 sets a compliance fee of £79, an enforcement fee of £247 and a sale or disposal fee of £116. At the enforcement and sale stages an extra 7.5% is added on the part of the debt above £1,900. The government's consultation response shows the earlier figures were £75, £235 and £110, with the percentage starting above £1,500, so the fixed fees rose by about 5% and the threshold by about 24%.

High Court enforcement, used for some larger judgment debts, has its own table: £79 compliance, £200 for the first enforcement stage, £520 for a second enforcement stage, and £550 for sale, with the 7.5% applying above £1,200. A bailiff must give a written bill of the fees. It can be worth checking each item on that bill against the official fee table.

A worked example

These figures are illustrative only. Suppose a council tax debt of £800 goes through every stage. The fees would be £79 plus £247 plus £116, which is £442, and no percentage fee applies because the debt is below £1,900. Now suppose a larger debt of £3,000. The part above £1,900 is £1,100, and 7.5% of £1,100 is £82.50. The enforcement stage would cost £247 plus £82.50, which is £329.50, and the sale stage £116 plus £82.50, which is £198.50. Adding the £79 compliance fee gives £79 plus £329.50 plus £198.50, a total of £607.

What can and cannot be taken

• Tools, books, computers, vehicles and similar items needed personally for work or study are protected up to a total value of £1,350.
• Items needed for basic household needs are exempt, such as a cooker, fridge, washing machine, beds and bedding, a table and enough chairs, and a phone.
• Items needed for medical care or for looking after a child, a disabled person or an older person are exempt.
• Pets and assistance dogs are exempt, as is a vehicle displaying a valid disabled person's badge that is being used to carry a disabled person.
• Goods that belong to someone else, such as a partner, a lodger or a finance company, cannot be taken for your debt.

Bailiffs may enter a home to which they have a lawful right of access, but the law restricts the use of force to narrow cases, and National Debtline explains that since 6 April 2014 most bailiffs do not have the right to force entry to a home. Entry is generally lawful only where someone lets them in peacefully and the correct procedures have been followed. Bailiffs must show their identity and authority on request, may enter only at set times of day, and must provide a notice of what they have done. Anyone unsure of their position may want to get advice before allowing entry.

Vulnerability and complaints

Bailiffs are expected to recognise when a person may be vulnerable, for example through serious illness, disability, pregnancy, age or difficulty with English. National Debtline says a vulnerable person can ask the bailiff to return the case to the creditor or to accept monthly payments with no further action, though being in a listed group does not guarantee that outcome.

A complaint usually goes first to the bailiff firm, in writing, and then to the creditor, which is generally responsible for its bailiffs. After that, routes depend on the debt. The Enforcement Conduct Board oversees accredited firms for action from 1 January 2025. Council debts in England can go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and in Wales to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Complaints about a certificated bailiff can also be made to the County Court using form EAC2. Free help with the debt itself is available from Citizens Advice, National Debtline, StepChange and MoneyHelper.

Check before you act

Rules and fee levels change, and the government has said it plans a further fee review about three years after this uplift. Please confirm the current figures and your own position on the official pages linked below, or with a free debt adviser, before relying on this general information.

Sources

• Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, schedule as revised (legislation.gov.uk)
• Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, regulation 6 on notice (legislation.gov.uk)
• Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, regulation 4 on exempt goods (legislation.gov.uk)
• Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, Schedule 12 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Taking Control of Goods consultation response (GOV.UK)
• Check what fees bailiffs can charge (Citizens Advice)
• Bailiff complaints in England and Wales (National Debtline)