Call

What Can Bailiffs Take?

Worried about what bailiffs can and can’t take from your home? It’s important to know your rights so you don’t lose essential belongings. Read our FAQs below for clear answers on what bailiffs can take—and what they cannot.

Let's Stop Bailiffs

Can Bailiffs Fore Entry
Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What can bailiffs take if I live with my parents?Bailiffs can only take items that belong to you, not your parents. They cannot remove goods owned by other household members unless you fail to prove ownership.
  2. Can bailiffs take my TV?Yes, bailiffs can take non-essential household items like TVs if they belong to you. However, they cannot remove essential living items such as beds, cookers, or fridges.
  3. Can bailiffs take my work van?Bailiffs cannot usually take a van if it’s essential for your work and worth under £1,350. If above this value, or not solely used for work, it may be taken.
  4. Can bailiffs take my car for unpaid council tax?Yes, bailiffs can seize vehicles outside your home to recover council tax debts. If the car is essential for work or on finance, you may be able to protect it.
  5. Can bailiffs take my partner’s car?Bailiffs can only take goods belonging to the debtor. If the car is solely in your partner’s name and you can prove ownership, bailiffs cannot remove it for your debt.
  6. Can bailiffs take my sofa?Bailiffs can take sofas if they’re non-essential and belong to you. However, they cannot remove seating needed for everyday living, such as your only sofa or essential chairs in the home.
  7. Can bailiffs take my children’s things?No, bailiffs cannot take children’s belongings, toys, or essential items. Goods belonging to minors are protected and cannot be used to settle debts, even if the family home is visited.
  8. Can bailiffs take my stuff for my partner’s debt?No, bailiffs cannot remove your belongings to cover your partner’s debt. They can only take items owned by the debtor, so proof of ownership helps protect your possessions.
  9. Can bailiffs take my washing machine?No, bailiffs cannot take essential household items needed for day-to-day living, such as a washing machine, cooker, or fridge. These are exempt from removal under bailiff rules.
  10. Can bailiffs take my pets?No, bailiffs cannot take pets or animals kept in the household. Pets are protected and are not considered assets that can be seized to recover debts.
  11. What happens if bailiffs can’t take anything?If bailiffs can’t find items to take, they may return, add enforcement fees, or refer the debt back to the creditor. Seeking advice quickly can stop bailiff action.
  12. What are bailiffs not allowed to take?Bailiffs cannot take essential household goods such as beds, clothing, fridges, or cookers. They also cannot remove tools of trade under £1,350, children’s belongings, or items that don’t belong to you. 
  13. Can bailiffs take items I use for work that are over the value limit?

Bailiffs cannot take tools or equipment needed for your job if they are essential and below the legal value threshold. If they are high value or not clearly needed for your work, they could be at risk.

14. Can bailiffs take items from outside my property?

Yes, bailiffs can seize goods found in areas they can legally access, like a driveway or garden shed. They must still follow the correct enforcement process and can’t break into locked or inaccessible spaces.

15. Can bailiffs take items I’ve hidden or moved away from home?

If bailiffs find out you’ve moved goods to stop them being seized, they may still list or take them if they can reasonably prove the items belong to you and are not exempt.

Take Action Before Bailiffs Do

Ignoring Bailiffs can lead to further enforcement action. The sooner you act, the more options you have.

Let's Stop Bailiffs

Credit Score

Credit Score Pop Up Wording : An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a formal agreement with creditors to repay a portion of your debts over time, but it does have an impact on your credit score and it will be difficult to obtain further credit whilst on an IVA. Once an IVA is approved, it is recorded on your credit report and will typically remain there for six years from the date it starts.
However, it’s important to note this is the case for most debt solutions and your credit score will likely already have been affected by being in debt in the first place.
Once your IVA is complete you will get a fresh start to begin rebuilding your credit rating.

Fees

IVA costs are charged for the preparation of your proposal and the administration of the arrangement for the full term (usually 5 years) these costs are charged from the monthly contributions you make into the IVA and are not in addition. Costs will only be recovered on approval of your arrangement and once you commence making payments to it. The fees for preparation of the proposal to creditors and calling the meeting for creditors to vote on its approval are called nominees fees, the fees for running the arrangement once approved are called supervisors fees. There are also some expenses incurred in the running of the arrangement such as the registration fee and the statutory insurance that needs to be taken by law, these are called disbursements. For our arrangements, the total of all of these is £3,650 although this may be adjusted by creditors when they vote on whether to accept. No matter what the end total of costs come to, you can be rest assured that these will be taken from the monthly payment we agree with you.