Can bailiffs come to my house for an unknown debt for the first time without giving a letter?

Bailiffs must give the debtor at least seven clear days before taking control of goods.^[1][2]

The underlying enforcement regulations state that the notice, called a Notice of Enforcement, must contain sufficient details of the debt to enable the debtor to identify the debt correctly, and details of the court judgment or order or enforcement power by virtue of which the debt is enforceable against the debtor.^[3]

If bailiffs take control of the debtors goods, or clamps a vehicle without giving a Notice of Enforcement, the debtor may sue for damages,^[4][5] and apply for costs.^[6][7]

In some cases the the debtor may apply for an injunction to release the controlled goods back to the debtor.^[4][8]

A common reason bailiffs ambush debtors is because the warrant of control, for traffic contravention debts, has a previous address for the debtor, and the bailiff has performed illegal trace action to find him, but jumped straight to enforcement at the debtors new address without telling the creditor or council that the debtor has a new address.

The law states the authority must apply for the re-issue of the warrant of control address to the debtor at his new address before an enforcement step may be taken.^[9]

^{[1] Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

[2] See Bailiffs turned up unexpectedly and ambushed you

[3] Regulation 7 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013

[4] Paragraph 66(5) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

[5] Section 3 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977

[6] Civil Procedure Rule 46.5

[7] Practice Direction 46.5 Rule 3.1

[8] Section 4 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977

[9] Civil Procedure Rule 75.7(7)}