Can Bailiffs Take Pets?

Are you worried about what might happen if you can’t pay a debt? Are you scared that a bailiff might come to your home and take something important to you, like your pet?

Don’t panic; you’ve come to the right place. Each month, over 12,000 people visit this website to get advice on debt topics.

In this article, we’ll cover important points like:

•  Understanding who bailiffs are and what they do,
•  Knowing when and where bailiffs can visit you,
•  Learning about your rights and how to lower your repayments,
•  Finding out what happens if you don’t let the bailiffs into your home,
•  Answering the question: Can bailiffs take pets?

We know that dealing with debt can be scary; some of our team have been in your shoes. We’re here to help you understand your situation better and give you the information you need to deal with it.

Let’s get started!

What should you do about a bailiff visit?

If you’ve received a ‘notice of enforcement’, you should prepare yourself for a bailiff’s visit.

That said, you shouldn’t let them into your home when they arrive!

There have been changes to the rules that apply to bailiffs which I’ve listed below:

• An enforcement agent doesn’t have to enter your home to ‘take control of goods’
• A bailiff can list any goods they can see through the window
• You could opt to close the blinds and curtains before a visit from bailiffs
• You may want to move high-value items so they are hidden out of sight
• When bailiffs list any goods they see through a window, it’s up to you whether you sign a ‘controlled goods agreement’.

What happens when you don’t sign the controlled goods agreement?

A bailiff can’t force their way into your home when you don’t agree to sign a controlled goods agreement.

Moreover, enforcement agents can’t take any items unless you let them into your home.

Plus, you can file a complaint against bailiffs if they attempt to take control of goods without entering your property!

What does a bailiff visit involve?

The process involved when bailiffs get involved over an outstanding debt is as follows:

• A creditor instructs a court-appointed bailiff to act on their behalf by way of a “warrant of control”
• The bailiff sends you a “notice of enforcement” which details the reason for their visit
• You may want to pay the outstanding debt or agree to a payment plan within 7 days of getting the notice to prevent the bailiff visit

A bailiff may try to gain entry into your home on their first visit to make a list of goods they could seize. But rarely would this happen on a first visit. The key is not to let a bailiff into your home!

When can the bailiffs visit you at home?

Bailiffs can only visit you at home between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm. Moreover, they can only visit you at other times if they’ve been granted a warrant from the courts.

That said if they are visiting business premises which are open outside of the set hours, they can visit you outside of the set hours.

Also, bailiffs can visit you at home on any day of the week. However, they should prevent visiting you on cultural or religious festivals unless necessary.

When can bailiffs force entry into your home?

Enforcement agents can force entry into your home to collect the following:

• Tax or Stamp duty
• Unpaid criminal fines

That said, bailiffs are only supposed to force their way into properties as a last resort.

But it’s worth noting they can seize items from outside your home which includes vehicles!

Also, bailiffs can’t force entry for a council tax debt!

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What if you don’t let the bailiffs into your home?

If you don’t let bailiffs into your home on their first visit, they’ll typically return at a later date.

Enforcement agents can apply to the court for a warrant to force entry but only if you refuse to let them in. Moreover, it only applies to specific debts and circumstances.

It typically only applies to HMRC and Magistrate court debts!

When can bailiffs apply for a warrant to force entry?

Enforcement agents can only apply for a warrant to force their way into your home for a CCJ if:

• The judgement relates to a business address, or
• Items already taken into ‘control’ are purposefully moved to another location to prevent them from being seized

Could bailiffs force entry with a qualified locksmith?

Yes. If a bailiff has the warrant to force entry into your home, they should use a qualified locksmith to open a front door.

Without a court warrant, a bailiff can’t break into your home even with the assistance of a qualified locksmith!

Do you get a warning before bailiffs?

Yes. You should get a letter from the bailiffs warning you about an intended visit. 

Don’t ignore the ‘notice of enforcement’ because if you do, enforcement agents will arrive 7 days later anyway.

Can high court enforcement officers take pets?

High court enforcement officers can lawfully seize items that belong to you when the debt they’re enforcing is yours!

For example, they could take items you own. They can also take items you own jointly with another person.

This could include the following:

• Vehicles
• Jewellery
• Electrical items

But they can’t take pets!

How do you complain about bailiffs?

First, check who is the claimant. This is the ‘creditor’ and file a complaint with them. Next, send a copy of the complaint letter to the bailiff.

I’ve listed how to complain to various creditors you could owe money to in the table below:

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can a bailiff make a control of goods agreement without you?

No. You have to sign the control of goods agreement and so does the bailiff. It means that if they made the list of goods through a window, an enforcement agent can’t then post it through your letterbox.

In short, you must be there when a control of goods agreement is put in place.

Can bailiffs take pets UK? RECAP

Bailiffs can definitely not take your pets. Any family pets are out of bounds as are many other items commonly found in a home. 

Knowing your rights and what bailiffs can and cannot take prepares you for a visit so the experience is less stressful. In short, an enforcement agent must respect the rules and how to act when they contact and visit you over an unpaid debt.