Is a removal notice without an address, but with a name, reference, and threat to return at 6am, legally valid?

A removal notice that lacks an address is highly irregular and raises questions about its legality and enforceability under the enforcement framework in England and Wales.

Under Paragraph 7 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, a bailiff (enforcement agent) may only enforce at premises where the debtor lives, carries on a trade or business, or on a highway. For enforcement to be lawful, the premises must be properly identified and known to the enforcement agent. A notice with no address fails to meet this requirement and undermines any lawful basis for subsequent enforcement, including entry or taking control of goods.

Additionally, Regulation 6 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 requires that a Notice of Enforcement must be given at least seven clear days before any enforcement action is taken (such as attending to remove goods), and it must include the address of the premises at which enforcement will take place. Although a "removal notice" is not defined in law, it is often issued after the initial Notice of Enforcement and must still comply with basic procedural fairness and transparency.

If threats to attend at 6:00am are made without a valid legal basis, particularly where no address is stated, it may also breach the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014, which state that bailiffs must act with fairness, transparency, and in accordance with the law. Threatening early-morning visits without proper documentation may amount to unlawful harassment.

In summary, a removal notice with no address is likely to be procedurally defective and potentially unlawful. You may have grounds to lodge a formal complaint and challenge any subsequent enforcement. If enforcement proceeds based on such a document, it may be a breach of the statutory regime and actionable under Paragraph 66 of Schedule 12, which provides a right to claim damages for unlawful enforcement.

A removal notice with no address is procedurally defective and likely unlawful under the enforcement framework in England and Wales. Bailiffs may only attend premises where the debtor lives, works, or on a highway, as set out in Paragraph 7 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Regulation 6 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 requires that enforcement notices include the address where action will take place. Issuing a notice with threats to attend at 6:00am, without identifying the premises, may breach the National Standards 2014 and could amount to unlawful enforcement or harassment. You may be entitled to challenge it or claim damages under Paragraph 66 of Schedule 12.