Enforcement Agents
Debtors will be notified in writing at least 14 days before enforcement action begins, together with details of applicable fees.
Where an agreed payment arrangement is not maintained, the Council may instruct Enforcement Agents to recover the debt. This is most commonly used where:
- Employment or benefit details are unavailable; and/or
- No payment arrangement has been made; and/or
- An agreed arrangement has not been maintained.
The Enforcement Agent will write to advise that the debt has been passed to them and request payment in full.
If payment is not received, agents may visit your property and take control of goods to the value of the debt and any associated costs.
Enforcement Agents may remove goods and place them into secure storage before sale.
They must gain entry peacefully through a normal entry point. They cannot force entry through external doors or windows. However, once inside a property, they may use reasonable force to access internal locked doors.
If you pay the debt, including all fees, before goods are removed or sold, enforcement action will stop.
You may also avoid removal of goods by entering into a Taking Control of Goods Agreement, allowing the debt to be repaid over time. Failure to maintain the agreement may result in goods being removed.
Enforcement Agent fees are set by legislation. Once a debt has been referred, any payments received will first be allocated to Enforcement Agent fees before the Council Tax debt.
If the debt cannot be recovered, or insufficient goods are available, the case may be returned to the Council for further action.