Bailiffs at your door
For most ordinary debts bailiffs cannot force their way into your home. You usually do not have to open the door.
- Before taking your things a bailiff must normally give you 14 days’ written notice.
- A bailiff cannot take your things before 6am or after 9pm.
- A bailiff cannot come in or stay if only a child or a vulnerable person is there.
- For most ordinary debts a bailiff cannot force their way in through a locked door.
- This includes credit card debt, catalogue debt and most county court debts.
- You usually do not have to open the door to a bailiff for an ordinary debt.
- Not opening the door is not a crime for these ordinary debts.
- This is different for an unpaid criminal fine.
- The law lets the agent force entry to collect an unpaid criminal fine.
- This is also different for a debt owed to the tax office.
- A court can give the agent power to force entry for a tax debt.
- Obstructing a bailiff who is lawfully inside your home is a crime.
This is the short and simple version.
The full page has more detail. It also shows the law each point comes from.
Checked 2026-08-26. This is information, not legal advice.