Under new laws restrictions will apply when bailiffs come to your door. From the 6th of april bailiffs will be banned from calling at night and entering premises using physical force. When children are the only people at home enforcement agents will be prevented from entering premises. They will also be prevented from taking essential items such as cookers,fridges,freezers, microwaves and washing machines.Bailiffs will now have to be trained and certified to practice so as
to put an end to the bullying and aggressive behaviour of agents
attempting to seize property. Chris Grayling, the justice secretary said
"People will still have to face up to their debt but they will no longer
need to fear their home being raided at night,the threat of violence or
having their vital household equipment seized. "We are stamping out bad practise and making sure bailiffs play by the rules. Those who don't will be banned." Other changes mean landlords will not be able to use bailiffs to seize goods for rent debt without going to the courts first, the bailiffs would then also have to go court to explain their means of entry and the amount of force that may be needed before any warrant is granted. Bailiffs will also have to give 7 days notice before taking possessions unless they have been given specific permission from a court.
Jo Salter, researcher at the think-tank Demos, said its research had
shown "aggressive" behaviour by bailiffs played a big part in the
emotional harm caused to families by debt.
"Council tax arrears is an example of one type of debt that many
said resulted in bailiffs getting involved. The actions of bailiffs
could often overwhelm people's rational ability to deal with the debt
itself. As a result our research showed that arrears can often be just
as harmful to people as payday loans."
The Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: "We help with 1,000 bailiff problems a week.
People have reported bailiffs giving debt letters to their children and
threatening violence. These new rules reflect just how out of control
the industry is and are a welcome step towards protecting people in
debt.
"What is missing from these changes is accountability for bailiff
firms. We'd like to see a licensing system that means firms are struck
off if bailiffs break the rules."
Under new laws restrictions will apply when bailiffs come to your door. From the 6th of april bailiffs will be banned from calling at night and entering premises using physical force. When children are the only people at home enforcement agents will be prevented from entering premises. They will also be prevented from taking essential items such as cookers,fridges,freezers, microwaves and washing machines.Bailiffs will now have to be trained and certified to practice so as
to put an end to the bullying and aggressive behaviour of agents
attempting to seize property. Chris Grayling, the justice secretary said
"People will still have to face up to their debt but they will no longer
need to fear their home being raided at night,the threat of violence or
having their vital household equipment seized. "We are stamping out bad practise and making sure bailiffs play by the rules. Those who don't will be banned." Other changes mean landlords will not be able to use bailiffs to seize goods for rent debt without going to the courts first, the bailiffs would then also have to go court to explain their means of entry and the amount of force that may be needed before any warrant is granted. Bailiffs will also have to give 7 days notice before taking possessions unless they have been given specific permission from a court.
