Bailiff (Enforcement Agent)
A person authorised to collect debts and enforce court judgments. Since 2014, most bailiffs are called enforcement agents and must be certificated by a county court judge. They can collect council tax debts, unpaid fines, and county court judgments. Strict rules govern when they can visit, what they can take, and the fees they can charge.
The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 govern enforcement agents. They must give a minimum of seven clear days' written notice (the 'Notice of Enforcement') before their first visit, unless a court has dispensed with this requirement. Enforcement agents cannot enter a property between 9pm and 6am, nor use force to enter a residential property on a first visit. They must show their certificate and a detailed list of fees. The fee structure is fixed: a compliance stage fee of £75, an enforcement stage fee of £235 (plus 7.5% of any debt over £1,500), and a sale stage fee of £110. Certain goods are exempt from seizure, including essential household items, tools of the trade (up to £1,350), and a vehicle needed for work or disability. Debtors can complain to the creditor, court, or certificating judge about enforcement agent conduct.