Councils’ bailiff use ‘far too high’

If you’re behind on your council tax, you’re far from being alone – research shows 1.3 million households struggled to pay on time in 2022/23. And a recent report found local authorities across England and Wales referred 2.7 million council tax debts to bailiffs in the same year.

Charities have been calling for improvements to debt collection practices and for the government to provide more support for households in council tax arrears.

What are bailiffs?

Bailiffs, or enforcement agents, have the legal right to come to your property to collect debts. They have the power to take and sell goods from your home if you’re behind on payments.

If a bailiff turns up at your home, you should ask to see their ID. If they say they’re a debt collector, tell them to leave – collectors don’t have the same powers as bailiffs and must leave when you tell them to.

You don’t have to let a bailiff in if it’s the first time they’ve visited you.

Can bailiffs enter my home?

Most of the time, bailiffs are only allowed in with your permission They have to enter without aggression, e.g. they can’t push past you, and aren’t allowed to visit you between 9pm and 6am. They’re also only allowed to enter through a door.

For most types of debt, bailiffs aren’t allowed to come in if no one is in, or the only people there are under 16 or vulnerable – due to a disability, for example.

If you’re being physically threatened by an enforcement officer, call 999.  

A bailiff can only force entry if they’re collecting tax debts or criminal fines. But they need court permission for this, and it doesn’t happen very often.

Can a bailiff refuse a payment plan?

You can suggest a payment plan to a bailiff, and they should pass on any reasonable offer to the creditor. If you’ve suggested a payment plan, then you’ll have to include a budget to show the amount you’re paying each month is reasonable.

If they don’t think your offer is reasonable, they could refuse to pass it on. In this situation, you should make the payments anyway, then get in touch with your creditor directly to see whether they’ll accept your offer.

Find out more about your rights in our guide on what enforcement agents can and can’t do.

Do you need debt help?

If you’re behind on your council tax payments, don’t struggle alone.

We can help by creating a realistic budgeting plan, helping you apply for grants, and advising you on possible debt solutions if you’re in debt.

All the advice we give is free. Some of our debt solutions are free too, while others have a fee.

You can get in touch with us online or give us a call.