11 Days
When the Warrant of Control is issued by the court, the authority or council receives it electronically in real time,[1] and from there, it passes to the bailiff company.[1]
The bailiff company will (or should) send the debtor named on the warrant of control, a Notice of Enforcement.[2]
The Notice of Enforcement must be given to the debtor not less than 7 clear days before the bailiff takes control of the debtor’s goods.[3]
The 7 clear days do not include a Sunday, bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas Day.[4]
If the Notice of Enforcement is given by post, then the bailiff must allow adequate time for Royal Mail to deliver the Notice.
The rules of court state that first class service is the second day after it was posted, provided that day is a business day; or if not, the next business day after that day.[5]
A "business day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday, a bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas Day.[6]
Together, this means there are about 11 days between the date of issue printed on the Notice of Enforcement to the earliest date the bailiffs can turn up.
If the bailiff takes control of goods, or clamps a car before this time limit has lapsed, the debtor recover damages for the breach.[7][8]
[1] Civil Procedure Rule 75.4
[2] Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[3] Regulation 6(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[4] Regulation 6(2) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[5] Civil Procedure Rule 6.14
[6] Civil Procedure Rule 6.2(b)
[7] Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[7] Paragraph 66(1) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
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