Independent guidance for England and Wales · Updated October 2026
How to stop the bailiffs: your rights and your options
Had a letter from an enforcement agent, or a knock at the door? You have more protection than you might think. We explain the rules in plain English and, if you want, put you in touch with an FCA-authorised debt adviser.
- Written from legislation and official guidance, and checked every six months
- Covers free options, including Breathing Space and Debt Relief Orders
- Free to use, with no obligation
We are an independent website, not a government service. Free, impartial advice is also available from MoneyHelper and debt charities.
Bailiffs must now usually give you at least 14 clear days' notice before visiting – or 28 days if a debt adviser asks. Fees also changed. What changed and what it means for you.
Bailiffs at the door right now?
Stay calm. For most debts you have more time and more rights than the person on your doorstep may suggest.
- You don't have to let them in for most debts, including council tax and parking fines.
- Ask for ID and their enforcement agent certificate through the letterbox or a window.
- Lock your car or move it off the road if you can.
- Only agree to a payment you can afford, then get advice.
Bailiff action in numbers
Bailiffs, officially called enforcement agents, are being used more than ever – especially for council tax. If you're dealing with them, you are far from alone.
- 1.72m council tax debts passed to bailiffs by councils in England and Wales in 2025/26 Source: Money Advice Trust freedom of information research, August 2026
- £7.4bn of council tax arrears owed in England at 31 March 2026, up £764m in a year Source: MHCLG collection rates, 2025 to 2026
- 126,240 people entered personal insolvency in England and Wales in 2025, the highest number since 2010 Source: Insolvency Service, January 2026
- 89,130 Breathing Space registrations in 2025, the most since the scheme began in 2021 Source: Insolvency Service, January 2026
Legal ways to stop bailiff action, compared
The right option depends on the type of debt, how much you owe and what you can afford. This is a summary – a debt adviser can tell you which options fit your situation.
| Option | Can suit people who | Cost | How long | Stops bailiffs? | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment arrangement | Can afford regular payments towards the debt | Free | Until the debt is paid | Usually, while you keep to it | Read |
| Breathing Space | Need time to get debt advice | Free | 60 days | Yes, for most debts | Read |
| Debt management plan | Can repay in full, but more slowly | Free from charities | Until debts are repaid | No, it's informal | Read |
| Debt Relief Order | Owe up to £50,000, have £75 or less spare each month and few assets | Free | 12 months | Yes, for debts included | Read |
| IVA | Have regular spare income and debts with several creditors | Fees, taken from payments | Usually 5 to 6 years | Yes, for debts included | Read |
| Bankruptcy | Can't repay in a reasonable time and can't get a DRO | £680 fee | Usually 12 months | Yes, for most debts | Read |
Simplified summary for England and Wales. Some debts, such as magistrates' court fines, can't be included in every solution. Every formal solution affects your credit rating for six years, and an IVA is not a government scheme. Compare all debt solutions in detail.
Your rights when bailiffs visit
Bailiffs must follow strict rules set out in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013. If they break them, you can complain and may be able to get fees refunded.
Want to check a bill? Use our bailiff fees calculator.
- Notice firstUsually at least 14 clear days' notice before a first visit, for debts passed to bailiffs from 1 May 2026.
- No forced entry for most debtsIncluding council tax, parking fines and county court judgments.
- Only between 6am and 9pmBailiffs can't take control of goods at your home outside these hours.
- Essentials are protectedSuch as your clothes, bedding, cooker, fridge and work tools up to £1,350.
- Vulnerable peopleThey can't enter if only children under 16 or vulnerable people are at home.
- Proof of identityThey must show ID and their enforcement agent certificate if you ask.
How our service works
We're an introducer, not a debt advice firm. If you'd like help, we put you in touch with an FCA-authorised debt adviser who can look at your whole situation.
Answer a few questions
Tell us roughly what you owe, how many debts you have and what you're paying. It takes about two minutes.
Speak to an authorised adviser
An FCA-authorised debt adviser contacts you to understand your income, spending and debts.
Choose what's right for you
They'll explain the options that fit – including free ones – with their costs and risks. You're under no obligation.
How we're paid: We are not a debt advice provider and we do not give debt advice. With your permission, we introduce you to an FCA-authorised debt advice firm that can discuss your situation and your options. We may receive a fee from that firm for the introduction. This does not affect the advice you receive or what you pay. Read more about how we're paid.
Who is behind this website
You should know who wrote the information you rely on, how it was checked and how we make money.
Who writes our guides
Claire Whitmore
Lead writer, debt and enforcement
Our guides are written by our editorial team and published under one byline, so you always know who is responsible. About our byline.
How we research and check
We write from legislation, GOV.UK guidance and official statistics. A second person checks every fact, figure and link, and every guide is reviewed at least every six months.
Contact and accountability
Email hello@howtostopthebailiffs.co.uk. We aim to reply within 2 working days and correct confirmed errors promptly.
We are not a government website. How To Stop The Bailiffs is run by [Your Company Name] Ltd. We are not part of GOV.UK, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Insolvency Service or any council, and we are not an enforcement company. For official information, go to GOV.UK.
Step-by-step guides
In-depth guides written from legislation, GOV.UK and official statistics, and checked against the rules in force today.
- How to stop bailiffs: the complete guide for 2026
Every legal way to stop bailiff action, what each one costs and how quickly it works.
- Your rights when bailiffs visit: the rules bailiffs must follow
Notice periods, visiting hours, entry, what bailiffs can take and what they can charge.
- Breathing Space: how the 60-day debt protection scheme works
The free 60-day legal protection that pauses bailiffs and freezes interest while you get advice.
- Debt Relief Orders (DROs): the complete 2026 guide
The free debt solution for people with low income and few assets, including the 2026 eligibility rules.
- Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs): how they work, costs and risks
How IVAs work, what they cost, how they stop bailiffs, and the risks to weigh up first.
- Debt solutions compared: DRO vs IVA vs bankruptcy vs debt management plan
DROs, IVAs, bankruptcy, debt management plans and more, side by side.
- Priority debts: which debts to deal with first
Why council tax, fines, rent and energy come first, and how to deal with them.
- Bailiffs and debt in Scotland and Northern Ireland
How enforcement and debt solutions differ outside England and Wales.
Latest articles
Answers to the questions people ask most when bailiffs get in touch.
Marston bailiffs: what to do if Marston Holdings contacts you
What a Marston letter means, the fees they can charge and how to stop enforcement.
Got a bailiff letter? What it means and what to do next
How to read a bailiff letter, how long you have and what to do first.
Council tax summons: what it means and what to do before the hearing
What a council tax summons means and what to do before the court date.
What is a CCJ? County court judgments explained
How CCJs work, from the claim form to bailiffs, and how to limit the damage.
IVA eligibility: who qualifies for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement?
The factors that decide whether an IVA is possible, and who it doesn't suit.
How to apply for a Debt Relief Order: step-by-step guide
The DRO application process, step by step, including the documents you'll need.
Common questions
Quick answers to what people ask us most. Each one links to a fuller guide.
How To Stop The Bailiffs explains the law in England and Wales. Different rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Can bailiffs force their way into my home?
Not for most debts. For council tax, parking fines, county court judgments and most other civil debts, bailiffs can only come in peacefully, through a door. Forced entry is allowed as a last resort for unpaid criminal fines and some HMRC debts, or to collect goods you've already agreed to under a controlled goods agreement. Read more.
What can bailiffs take?
Non-essential items you own, such as a TV, games console, jewellery or a car. They can't take essential household items, other people's belongings, or work tools worth up to £1,350 in total. Read more.
How much can bailiffs charge?
Fees are fixed by law. For debts passed to bailiffs from 1 May 2026, the compliance fee is £79 and the enforcement visit fee is £247, plus 7.5% of any debt over £1,900. Read more.
Can a DRO or IVA stop bailiffs?
Yes, for the debts included. Once a Debt Relief Order is made or an IVA is approved, the creditors included can't use bailiffs to collect those debts. Some debts, like magistrates' court fines, can't be included. DROs · IVAs.
Is this a government website?
No. How To Stop The Bailiffs is an independent website run by a private company. We are not connected to GOV.UK, the courts, the Insolvency Service, any council or any enforcement company. Official information is on GOV.UK. About us.
Is your service free?
Yes, it's free to use and you don't have to go ahead with anything. We may receive a fee from the debt advice firm we introduce you to. Free advice is also available from MoneyHelper and debt charities. How we're paid.