About This Letter
Bailiffs, now officially called enforcement agents, collect unpaid council tax, business rates, parking and traffic penalties, magistrates' court fines and county court judgments moved up to the High Court. They must follow strict rules on notice, visiting times, what they can take and the fees they can charge.
A letter is the clearest way to deal with a bailiff firm. It gives you a dated record of what you asked for and when, which matters if you later complain to the creditor, an ombudsman or the Enforcement Conduct Board. You can use it to ask for enforcement to be paused because you are vulnerable, offer an affordable payment plan, complain about a visit, challenge fees, or say that you do not owe the debt.
PostRight writes the letter from your answers and quotes the rules that apply to your situation, including the changes that came in on 1 May 2026. The letter gives the firm 14 days to reply in writing. We print it and post it by Royal Mail, so you do not need a printer or a trip to the post office.
What Changed on 1 May 2026
The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026. Bailiffs must now give at least 14 clear days' notice before taking control of goods, up from 7. If a free debt advice provider asks before the notice period ends, it is extended to at least 28 clear days. Fixed fees rose for the first time since 2014. Action taken before 1 May 2026 is not affected.
| Stage (most debts) | Before 1 May 2026 | From 1 May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance | £75 | £79 |
| Enforcement (after a visit) | £235 plus 7.5% over £1,500 | £247 plus 7.5% over £1,900 |
| Sale or disposal | £110 plus 7.5% over £1,500 | £116 plus 7.5% over £1,900 |
High Court writs have their own scale: from 1 May 2026, £79 at the compliance stage, £200 plus 7.5% over £1,200 at the first enforcement stage, £520 at the second and £550 plus 7.5% over £1,200 at the sale stage.
What Bailiffs Can and Cannot Do
- They cannot take control of goods before 6am or after 9pm, unless a court allows it or the premises are a business open at that time.
- They can only come in through a door or the usual way in. Except in limited cases, such as some unpaid criminal fines, they cannot force their way in, and that includes pushing past you.
- They cannot take control of goods if a child under 16 or a vulnerable person is the only person at home.
- They cannot take items you need for your work worth up to £1,350 in total, or household essentials such as a cooker, fridge, washing machine, beds, and a table and chairs for everyone in the household.
- They can only take goods that belong to the person who owes the debt.
If You Are Vulnerable
The national standards for enforcement agents say a person may be vulnerable because of their age, health or disability. They list examples including older people, people with a disability, the seriously ill, the recently bereaved, single parents, pregnant women, unemployed people and people who have difficulty understanding, speaking or reading English. When an agent identifies a vulnerable situation, they should alert the creditor.
Tell the bailiff firm and the creditor in writing as early as you can, and get free debt advice. A debt adviser can also ask for a longer notice period, or apply for Breathing Space, which pauses most enforcement for 60 days.
How to Complain About a Bailiff
Complain to the bailiff firm first, and to the creditor, such as the council. For council and Transport for London debts you can then go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Firms accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board can be reported to it about enforcement from 1 January 2025, usually within three months of becoming aware of the problem or one month of the firm's final response. If the agent is certificated, you can also send form EAC2 to the court where the agent is certificated. The court can cancel the certificate or order compensation, but you may have to pay costs if it decides there were no reasonable grounds.
Guides to Bailiff Firms
If you have a letter from one of these firms, read our guide to who they are, what their letters mean and how to contact them.
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