Writ of control or warrant of control: which applies and what differs

Short answer

A writ of control and a warrant of control do the same thing: they authorise an enforcement agent to take control of the debtor's goods and sell them to pay a judgment. The difference is the court and the people who execute it. A writ of control is issued by the High Court and executed by a High Court Enforcement Officer and the enforcement agents working under that officer. A warrant of control is issued by the County Court and executed by County Court bailiffs, who are court staff. The fee tables differ, the amount bands differ, and the enforcement stage is split into two on a writ. CPR rule 83.1(2) gives both terms the meaning in section 62(4) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, so the procedure on the ground, in Schedule 12 to that Act and the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, is the same for both.

The law

Which court. Article 8(1) of the High Court and County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1991 provides that a County Court money judgment enforced by execution against goods is enforced only in the High Court where the sum is £5,000 or more, only in the County Court where the sum is less than £600, and in either court in any other case. Article 8(1A) keeps judgments arising from agreements regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in the County Court. GOV.UK puts it the same way: a creditor owed between £600 and £5,000 can choose, the County Court warrant needs a debt of £5,000 or less, and the High Court writ needs at least £600.

Getting the instrument. A warrant of control is applied for by filing a request, without notice, at the County Court hearing centre (CPR 83.15); GOV.UK names the form as N323. A writ of control against a County Court judgment starts with a request for a certificate of judgment, which on grant transfers the proceedings to the High Court (CPR 83.19); GOV.UK names the combined form as N293A. Either instrument needs the court's permission in the cases listed in CPR 83.2, including where six years or more have passed since the judgment.

The fees. The Schedule to the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 has two tables. Table 1, headed enforcement other than under a High Court writ, has three stages: compliance, enforcement, and sale or disposal, with a percentage fee at the enforcement and sale stages on the part of the sum above the Table 1 threshold. Table 2, headed enforcement under a High Court writ, has four: compliance, a first enforcement stage, a second enforcement stage, and sale or disposal, with the percentage at the first enforcement and sale stages on the part of the sum above the Table 2 threshold. Both tables were substituted from 1 May 2026 by the Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026.

The costs

	Warrant of control (County Court, Table 1)	Writ of control (High Court, Table 2)
Court fee	£96	£82
Compliance stage	£79	£79
Enforcement stage	£247 plus 7.5% above £1,900	First stage £200 plus 7.5% above £1,200; second stage £520
Sale or disposal stage	£116 plus 7.5% above £1,900	£550 plus 7.5% above £1,200

VAT at 20% is charged on a High Court Enforcement Officer's fees; County Court bailiffs are court staff and no VAT arises. The fee calculator shows the stages for any debt, and the writ against warrant comparison sets the two out field by field.

What happens next

1. Work out the band. Under £600, the warrant is the only option. £5,000 or more, the writ is the only option. Between the two, the creditor weighs cost against the enforcement officer's commercial incentive and reach.
2. Warrant. File N323 at the hearing centre with the court fee. GOV.UK describes the process: the bailiff asks for payment within seven days, then visits the home or business to see if anything can be sold.
3. Writ. File N293A for a certificate of judgment, pay the sealing fee, and instruct a High Court Enforcement Officer. The transfer is effective when the certificate is granted (CPR 83.19(2)); transferring to the High Court walks through it.
4. On the ground. Either way the agent must give the debtor a notice of enforcement with the clear-day period before attending, may enter only in permitted hours, and may take control of goods by securing them, removing them or entering a controlled goods agreement. The debtor rights page covers the protections, and the enforcement timeline the sequence.

Where to get help

A creditor choosing between the two for a debt in the £600 to £5,000 band should ask a solicitor or a High Court Enforcement Officer which fits the debtor's circumstances. A debtor who has received a notice of enforcement under either instrument can get free, independent advice from National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 or Citizens Advice.