Bailiff Regulation Overhaul
More than seven million cases are sent to bailiff enforcement each year in England and Wales, with the sector pulling in over £1 billion annually. The bulk of that revenue stems from unpaid parking and traffic fines, together with council tax arrears. Despite the scale, private bailiffs are not currently required to be authorised by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), and a number of firms have declined to sign up.
In June 2025 the Ministry of Justice pledged to legislate for mandatory independent regulation of bailiffs. A year later, with no concrete plan in sight, the overseeingߞthe ECB⟨ criticised the lack of progress. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, called the situation “outrageous that we still don’t have a proper independent regulator [of bailiffs]”.
The government’s latest announcement changes that. Private bailiffs will now need ECB accreditation, or be employed by an accredited enforcement company, to obtain or renew the certificates they must hold. The new regime promises consistent professional standards and an independent complaints process for those facing enforcement action. Officials say the full rollout will not take effect until next year.
Targeting Rogue Traders
Andy Burnham, speaking as part of a broader “everyday fixes” programme to ease the cost of living, said the crackdown on bailiffs is paired with a drive against “cowboy” tradespeople. He warned that after tackling subscription traps and fake discounts, “we’re coming for the cowboy builders” and other unscrupulous operators.
From next month a government‑backed initiative will help householders identify and hire trusted builders and other tradespeople “with confidence”. Firms that join the “Approved Code” scheme – developed by the furniture and home improvement ombudsman – will be able to demonstrate they meet higher standards. A spokesperson confirmed the first businesses will be listed by the end of September, with full implementation by December.
Complementing that, an app‑based service called Trusted Payments is set to go live next week. It will hold consumers’ money safely during building projects, similar to tenant deposit protection schemes, and release funds to builders only when agreed milestones are met.
What It Means for Consumers
Consumer groups have long highlighted poor bailiff practices: aggressive doorstep behaviour, overcharging, clamping vehicles used by disabled people, and threats to remove “exempt” possessions. Sarah Sackman, minister for courts and legal services, stressed that when someone is already struggling with debt “the last thing they should face is intimidating behaviour, unfair treatment or being pushed into excessive repayment arrangements they cannot afford”.
The new accreditation requirement aims to curb those abuses by ensuring only vetted operators can work in the field. For homeowners, the Approved Code scheme and Trusted Payments app offer clearer routes to vetted contractors and safer payment handling, reducing the risk of being ripped off by rogue builders.
Why it Matters
These measures tackle two sharply felt pain points for households across England and Wales: the fear of aggressive bailiff action and the prevalence of cowboy traders who leave residents out of pocket and out of options. By forcing bailiffs into a regulated framework and giving consumers transparent tools to vet builders and protect payments, the government seeks to restore trust in essential services and curb exploitative practices that have long plagued vulnerable communities. If implemented as promised, the changes could cut the number of unfair enforcement cases and save consumers millions in avoided overcharges and shoddy workmanship.
