Notice of Enforcement: what it means and how long you have

What is a Notice of Enforcement?

Before a bailiff can take control of your goods, the law says you must be given a Notice of Enforcement. It’s required by the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 and must include:

• the name of the creditor and the enforcement company
• the amount owed, including the compliance fee
• how and where to pay
• a contact number and reference
• the date and time the notice was issued
• what will happen if you don’t pay

It usually arrives by post, but can be delivered by hand, fixed to your door or (in some cases) sent by email.

What changed on 1 May 2026?

The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 made two important changes:

The new rules apply to warrants and writs passed to the enforcement company on or after 1 May 2026. If your case was passed to bailiffs before then, the old 7-day rule still applies.

What does “clear days” mean?

Clear days don’t include:

• the day the notice is given
• the day of the visit
• Sundays, bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day

So a 14-clear-day notice period lasts longer than two calendar weeks. If a bailiff visits before the notice period has ended, the visit may be unlawful and the enforcement fee may not be due.

How to get the 28-day extension

If you need more time to sort things out, a debt advice provider can ask the enforcement company to extend the notice period to 28 clear days. The request must be made before your original notice period ends, so get advice quickly.

This is a valuable window. In four weeks, an adviser can help you:

• work out a realistic budget and make an affordable offer
• check whether you can get Breathing Space, which can pause most bailiff action for 60 days
• look at a formal solution, such as a Debt Relief Order or IVA

What to do when you get a Notice of Enforcement

1. Don’t ignore it. If you do nothing, a bailiff will visit and at least £247 more in fees will be added.
2. Check the details. Is the debt yours? Is the amount right? Is the company genuine? You can check a private bailiff on the Certificated Enforcement Agent Register.
3. Note the date. Work out when the notice period ends.
4. Decide what you can afford. List your income and essential costs.
5. Contact the enforcement company to pay or offer an affordable arrangement, in writing.
6. Contact the creditor (for example, your council) if the bailiffs won’t accept a fair offer or you’re vulnerable.
7. Get advice, especially if you have other debts or can’t afford the payments.

What fees have been added?

The compliance fee (£79 for cases from 1 May 2026, £75 before) is added when the case is passed to the bailiffs. If you pay in full or agree an arrangement now, no further fees should be added. Once a bailiff visits, the enforcement fee of £247 plus 7.5% of any debt over £1,900 can be added. See bailiff fees explained or use our fees calculator.

What if I never received a Notice of Enforcement?

If a bailiff visits and you didn’t get a Notice of Enforcement, ask them for a copy and the date it was sent. If it wasn’t sent correctly, or the notice period hadn’t ended, the visit and any enforcement fee may be challengeable. Raise this in writing and see how to complain about a bailiff.

Notices from specific companies

If you’re not sure what kind of letter you have, start with got a bailiff letter? What it means.

The rules above apply to every enforcement company. If you’d like company-specific help:

• Marston bailiffs – what a Marston Holdings letter means
• Equita bailiffs – agreeing an affordable plan with Equita
• Bristow & Sutor bailiffs – parking and council tax letters
• Jacobs bailiffs – what to do if your car is clamped
• Rossendales bailiffs – checking fees and complaining
• Newlyn bailiffs – a 14-day action plan after a Newlyn letter

Frequently asked questions

How long after a Notice of Enforcement can bailiffs visit?

For cases passed to bailiffs on or after 1 May 2026, at least 14 clear days (or 28 if a debt adviser asks for an extension in time). For earlier cases, at least 7 clear days.

Can I get more time after a Notice of Enforcement?

Yes. A debt advice provider can request an extension to 28 clear days, as long as the request is made before your notice period ends.

Is a Notice of Enforcement the same as a court summons?

No. The court stage has usually already happened – for example, the council has a liability order, or a creditor has a county court judgment. The Notice of Enforcement is the bailiffs’ first step.

Will paying now stop the bailiffs coming?

Yes. If you pay in full or agree an affordable plan and stick to it, there should be no visit and no further fees.

Sources

• The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
• The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026
• GOV.UK, Bailiff powers when they visit your home
• Certificated Enforcement Agent Register