Bailiffs are pestering about a debt owed by a housemate.


Bailiffs are allowed to attend the address on the warrant if it where the debtor usually lives,[1] but may only take control of goods that belong to the debtor.[2]

If the debtor does not live there, you may ask the bailiff to quietly leave the property without telling him where the debtor lives, because creditors must not issue a warrant knowing that the debtor is not at the address, as a means of tracing the debtor at no cost.[3]

If the bailiff causes a disturbance or is confrontational, then call police on 999.[4]

If the bailiff clamps your car for someone else's debt, then make a claim to controlled goods[5][6] and apply for your costs,[7] together with damages for depriving you of the car.[8]

If a bailiff gains entry to a debtors property using a landlords key, the entry is unlawful,[9] and bailiffs must not encourage a third party to access to property.[10]



[1] Paragraph 14(6) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[2] Paragraph 10 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[3] Paragraph 12 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards, April 2014
[4] Section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
[5] High Court debts: Civil Procedure Rule 85.6
[6] All other debts: Civil Procedure Rule 85.4
[7] Civil Procedure Rule 44.2
[8] Section 3 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977
[9] Miller v Curry [1893]
[10] Nash v Lucas [1867] 2 QB 590