Notice of enforcement: the clear days before an agent can call

Short answer

An enforcement agent may not take control of goods without first giving the debtor a notice of enforcement (paragraph 7 of Schedule 12 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007). Regulation 6 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 sets the minimum period: the notice must be given not less than 14 clear days before the agent takes control of the debtor's goods. Where a debt advice provider makes a request on the debtor's behalf before that period expires, the minimum becomes 28 clear days, unless the debt is a non-eligible business debt. A Sunday, bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas Day falling in the period does not count. The court may order a shorter period where satisfied that, without the order, the goods are likely to be moved or disposed of to avoid enforcement.

The law

The duty to give notice. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 12 provides that an enforcement agent may not take control of goods unless the debtor has been given notice, and that regulations must provide for the minimum period of notice, the form of the notice, what it must contain, how it must be given and who must give it. The court may shorten the period in prescribed circumstances.

The period. Regulation 6(1) sets the minimum at 14 clear days. Regulation 6(1A), in force from 1 May 2026 under the Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, extends it to 28 clear days where a debt advice provider submits a request on the debtor's behalf before the initial period expires, except for non-eligible business debt. Where either period includes a Sunday, bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas Day, that day does not count in calculating the period.

What the notice must say. Regulation 7 requires the notice to be given in writing and to contain: the debtor's name and address; the reference number or numbers; the date of the notice; details of the court, judgment, order or enforcement power under which the debt is enforceable; sufficient details of the debt to identify it, the amount outstanding including interest to the date of the notice, the enforcement costs incurred to date and the possible additional costs if the sum stays outstanding; how, between which hours and on which days payment may be made; the agent's or office's contact details and the hours it can be contacted; the date and time by which payment must be made to avoid goods being taken and further costs; information about free debt advice providers and their contact details; and notice that an extension of the minimum period may be requested under regulation 6(1A). The last two items have applied since 1 May 2026.

How it is given. Under regulation 8 the notice must be given by the enforcement agent or the agent's office, by post to the place, or one of the places, where the debtor usually lives or carries on a trade or business; by fax or other electronic communication; by hand through the letter box; where there is no letter box, by affixing it where it is likely to come to the debtor's attention; personally to an individual debtor; or, for a company or partnership, at a place of business or the registered office.

The costs

Giving the notice is the compliance stage, and the compliance stage fee becomes recoverable from the debtor at that point: £79 on a County Court warrant, commercial rent arrears recovery or council tax enforcement, and £79 on a High Court writ. Paying the amount outstanding, including that fee, within the period stops the matter before the enforcement stage fee arises. The fee calculator shows what each later stage would add.

What happens next

1. Count the days. Start the day after the notice is given, skip Sundays, bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day, and the agent may not attend to take control of goods until the clear days have run.
2. Read the notice against regulation 7. It must state the amount, the costs so far, the possible further costs, the deadline and how to pay. A notice missing those items is not the notice the regulations require.
3. Use the period. Pay in full, or contact the agent's office on the details in the notice to propose an arrangement. A debt advice provider can request the 28-day extension on the debtor's behalf before the first period ends.
4. If the agent attends early. Keep the notice and the dates, do not let the agent in, and raise it with the firm and the Enforcement Conduct Board. The debtor rights page covers entry and what an agent may and may not do, and can enforcement agents force entry the rules on the door.

Where to get help

Free, independent debt advice is available from National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 and from Citizens Advice; either can make the regulation 6(1A) request. Complaints about an enforcement agent's conduct go to the firm first and then to the Enforcement Conduct Board.