Bailiff powers when they visit your home

What you can do when a bailiff visits

A bailiff (‘enforcement agent’) may visit your home if you do not pay your debts - such as Council Tax bills, parking fines, court fines and county court or family court judgments.

There’s a different process in Scotland.

This will happen if you ignore letters saying that bailiffs will be used.

You might be arrested if you do not pay criminal debts, such as fines or penalty notices.


There are different kinds of bailiffs, known as:

  • ‘certificated enforcement agents’
  • ‘high court enforcement officers’
  • ‘county court and family court bailiffs’
  • ‘civilian enforcement officers’


Pay what you owe before a bailiff visits

If you think a bailiff might visit you to collect debts, you can stop this by paying the money you owe. Get advice about how to pay your debt from whoever you owe money to as soon as possible.

Find out what to do if you have a debt that you cannot pay.

Dealing with bailiffs

You usually do not have to open your door to a bailiff or let them in.

Bailiffs cannot enter your home:

  • by force, for example by pushing past you
  • between 9pm and 6am
  • through anything except the door


If you do not let a bailiff in or agree to pay them:

  • you could end up owing even more money

If you do let a bailiff in but do not pay them they may take some of your belongings. They could sell the items to pay debts and cover their fees.

Check the bailiff’s identity

Before you let a bailiff in to take your things or pay them, ask to see:

  • proof of their identity, such as a badge, ID card or enforcement agent certificate
  • which company they’re from
  • a telephone contact number
  • a detailed breakdown of the amount owed

You can ask for proof of a bailiff’s identity and authorisation even if they’ve visited before - for example, ask them to put it through the letterbox or show it at the window.

All bailiffs must have a certificate unless they’re exempt or they’re with someone who does have a certificate.

Anyone who claims to be a bailiff and isn’t one is committing fraud.

To check a bailiff’s identity, find out what kind of bailiff they are from their proof of identity and then:

Paying a bailiff

You can pay the bailiff on the doorstep - you do not have to let them into your home.

Make sure you get a receipt to prove you’ve paid.

If you cannot pay all the money right away, speak to the bailiff about how you could pay the money back.


The bailiff does not have to accept your offer.

What bailiffs can and cannot take



They cannot take:

  • someone else’s belongings, such as your partner’s computer

You’ll have to prove that someone else’s goods do not belong to you.

What bailiffs can charge

How much you pay depends on your situation. Citizens Advice has information on bailiff’s fees.

Help or advice

You can get free help or advice on dealing with bailiffs from: