Council tax bailiff (enforcement agent) fees 2026

From bailiff to enforcement agent

The term "bailiff" was formally replaced by "enforcement agent" under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and the secondary regulations made under it. The change applied from 6 April 2014. The old common-law office of the bailiff was abolished and replaced by a statutory framework with mandatory certification, fixed fees, and prescribed conduct. People still call them bailiffs, but the legal term is enforcement agent.

Enforcement agents for council tax are typically employees of private companies under contract to the council. The companies have to be certified under the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014, and individual agents have to hold a current certificate of fitness. Without certification, they cannot act. Certificates can be checked through the central register maintained by the Ministry of Justice.

The three-stage fee structure

The Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 set out a three-stage fee structure for civil enforcement:

Compliance stage: £75

The compliance stage starts when the case is passed to the enforcement agent. A letter is sent giving you 7 days to pay. No agent visit is involved at this stage. The £75 fee is incurred as soon as the case is passed to the enforcement agent, even if you pay within the 7-day period. Some councils will negotiate to have the £75 fee waived if you pay the debt directly to the council and agree to deal with the council in future, but this is not a statutory right.

Enforcement stage: £235 + 7.5% above £1,500

The enforcement stage starts when the agent first attempts to visit the property. The £235 fee is incurred regardless of whether the visit results in entry or any goods being taken. If the debt is above £1,500, an additional 7.5 per cent of the amount above £1,500 is added to the fee. So a £4,000 debt incurs £235 + (£2,500 x 7.5%) = £235 + £187.50 = £422.50 at the enforcement stage alone.

Sale stage: £110 + 7.5% above £1,500

The sale stage starts when goods that have been taken into control are removed for auction. The £110 fee is incurred when the agent arranges the removal and sale. As with the enforcement stage, an additional 7.5 per cent of the debt above £1,500 is added.

For a typical council tax debt of around £1,000, the maximum total fee is therefore £75 + £235 + £110 = £420. For larger debts the total can be higher. The fees are payable in addition to the underlying council tax debt and the court summons costs.

What an enforcement agent can and cannot do

Cannot

• Force entry to a residential property on a first visit. Entry has to be through an open door or with permission.
• Visit between 9pm and 6am unless the property is a business premises.
• Visit on Sundays in most circumstances.
• Take protected goods. Protected items include tools of the trade up to £1,350, ordinary clothing and bedding, basic furniture, items needed for a child's welfare or education.
• Take goods belonging to other people. If a third party (a housemate, a relative) can prove ownership of an item, it cannot be taken.
• Use unreasonable force or threaten violence.
• Charge fees outside the regulated schedule (the £75 + £235 + £110 + 7.5% structure).

Can

• Enter through an open door or window. An open garage with an internal door to the house counts as a possible entry route.
• Enter with permission. If you invite them in or let them in, they can enter.
• Take and sell goods belonging to the debtor, subject to the protected-goods rules.
• Clamp or remove a vehicle on a public road or driveway, subject to the protected-tools-of-trade exemption (a vehicle worth under £1,350 essential for work cannot be taken).
• Take a Controlled Goods Agreement: a written agreement listing goods that you will not dispose of, in return for a payment arrangement.

What to do if an enforcement agent visits

1. Do not open the door. Enforcement agents cannot force entry to a residential property on a first visit. If you do not open the door, they cannot enter and cannot take goods. Speak to them through the door or a window if you wish.
2. Identify them. Ask for their name, the company they work for, and their enforcement agent certificate number. Confirm with the Ministry of Justice register if you have doubts.
3. Ask for a breakdown of the debt. They should produce a notice of enforcement showing the original debt, the summons costs, and the enforcement fees so far.
4. Contact the council immediately. Phone the council's recovery team and explain the situation. Ask whether the case can be returned to the council for direct negotiation. The council has discretion to recall a case from the agent.
5. Get independent advice. Phone Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline for free advice before agreeing to anything with the enforcement agent.

If you are vulnerable

The Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014 (issued by the Ministry of Justice) require enforcement agents to recognise vulnerable people and to refer the case back to the creditor (the council) where vulnerability is identified. Vulnerable circumstances include:

• Single parent households
• Long-term sickness or serious illness
• Disability (including mental health issues)
• Elderly residents
• Recent bereavement
• Pregnancy
• Households with children

If you fall into any of these categories, tell the enforcement agent and the council. The case should be returned to the council for direct handling. If the agent continues to act despite a vulnerability disclosure, file a complaint with the agent's company and with the council. Persistent breaches can be reported to the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA) and to the Ministry of Justice.

Disputing enforcement agent action

You can dispute enforcement agent action in three ways. First, complain to the enforcement company directly; every certificated company has a formal complaints procedure. Second, complain to the council, which is the agent's instructing creditor and is ultimately responsible for the agent's conduct. Third, in serious cases, file a complaint with CIVEA (the trade body) or apply to the County Court for a Detailed Assessment of the fees and for an order requiring the agent to return any improperly taken goods.

The Detailed Assessment is the formal mechanism for disputing fees under the 2014 Regulations. It requires a court application and is technical, so most disputes are better resolved through the complaint routes first.

Related pages

For earlier stages of enforcement see council tax court summons and attachment of earnings. For the full enforcement timeline see how to pay (and what happens if you do not). To avoid enforcement in the first place see apply for Council Tax Reduction.