Why an enforcement agent is at your door
If a council tax bill has not been paid, the local council can apply to the magistrates' court for a liability order. Once that order is granted, one route the council can take to recover the money is to instruct an enforcement agent — the legal term for what most people still call a bailiff.
According to GOV.UK, enforcement agents working on council tax debts must follow the rules set out in the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 and the related fees regulations, which came into force on 6 April 2014. This means the process, the fees and the powers are all defined in law — not made up on the doorstep.
The three stages and the fixed fees
The Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 set out three stages, each with a fixed fee that is added to the debt:
- Compliance stage — £75. Added once the case is passed to the enforcement agent and the Notice of Enforcement is issued.
- Enforcement stage — £235 (plus 7.5% of the debt above £1,500). Added the first time an agent attends the property.
- Sale or disposal stage — £110 (plus 7.5% of the debt above £1,500). Added if goods are removed for sale.
These fees are fixed by regulation. An enforcement agent cannot lawfully invent additional charges on top of the stages set out in the rules.
Can a bailiff force entry for council tax?
This is one of the most common worries, and the rules are specific. For council tax arrears, an enforcement agent cannot force entry into your home on a first visit. According to GOV.UK, peaceful entry through a normal door is what the law allows — they cannot break in, push past you, or come in through a window.
What they can do, if you let them in or if items are outside, is take "controlling" of goods — usually by listing items in a Controlled Goods Agreement. If that agreement is then broken (for example, payments stop), the agent can return and, in some cases, force entry to remove the listed goods. The rules around forced entry are narrow and set out in legislation.
Who is protected from enforcement action
Some households are classed as vulnerable under the regulations, and enforcement agents must take this into account. GOV.UK lists situations that may indicate vulnerability, including:
- Serious illness or disability in the household
- Recent bereavement
- Pregnancy or very young children
- Mental health difficulties
- Communication or language difficulties
If a vulnerable person is present, the agent is expected to withdraw and refer the matter back to the council. The case may then be dealt with differently — for example, through a payment arrangement rather than removal of goods.
What the rules say about goods that can and cannot be taken
The regulations list items that are exempt from being taken. These include basic household items needed for the daily living of the household, such as a cooker, fridge, beds, and items needed for work up to a value of £1,350. Vehicles needed for disability use are also exempt.
Items that belong to someone else — for example, a partner who is not named on the liability order — should not be taken, although proving ownership can be the responsibility of the owner.
Practical information for the moment a visit happens
The legal framework gives several factual points to keep in mind during a doorstep visit:
- You can ask the agent for identification and their certificate — all enforcement agents must be certificated by a county court.
- You can ask to see a copy of the Notice of Enforcement and the breakdown of fees being charged.
- You are not required to open the door. Conversation can take place through a closed door or window.
- Cars on the driveway or street can be clamped or taken if they belong to the person named on the liability order — keeping a vehicle in a locked garage is one factual difference.
Speaking to the council
Once a liability order is in place, the council remains the creditor. It is possible to contact the council directly to discuss the arrears — for example, to request that the account is recalled from the enforcement agent, or to set up a payment arrangement. Whether the council agrees is their decision, but the option to ask exists at any point.
Some people in this situation find that looking at the wider picture of their debts — not just the council tax arrears — gives a clearer view of what is affordable. Formal debt solutions such as a Debt Management Plan, an IVA, a Debt Relief Order or bankruptcy each have different rules about how council tax arrears are treated, and free advice services can explain how each would apply to an individual situation.