Bailiffs (enforcement agents): your rights
What bailiffs can and can't do, what they can charge, and what to do if they're coming.
Before they visit
You should get a notice of enforcement giving you at least 14 clear days before a bailiff can visit. Use that time. Contact the bailiff company and the creditor, and get free debt advice straight away.
What they can charge
Fees are fixed by law. As of 21 September 2026: £79 at the compliance stage, £247 at the enforcement stage, and £116 at the sale stage, with extra percentage fees on debts over £1,900. Ask for a breakdown if the fees look wrong.
At the door
For most debts you don't have to let a bailiff in, and on a first visit they can't force their way into your home. Talk through a closed door or window, or by phone. Never sign anything you don't understand.
What they can't take
Things you need for basic living, like clothes, bedding, cooker, fridge and washing machine, are protected. So are tools of your trade up to £1,350. Ask a debt adviser if you're unsure.
Go step by step with Debt Confident
The app turns this into a plan: what to do first, what to say, and what to write. Free to download.
More guides
- Priority debts: which bills to pay first
- Breathing Space: 60 days' protection from creditors
- Debt Relief Orders (DROs): who can get one
- Debt letters: what they mean and what to do
- Bankruptcy: the basics
- How to make a budget that actually works
- Free debt advice: where to get it
General information for England and Wales, not regulated debt advice. Figures checked 21 September 2026. For advice about your situation, contact a free debt adviser.