What Assets Can Bailiffs Take?
If you’re in debt, you might be concerned about the threat of bailiffs. In this article, we look at what bailiffs can take and your rights to stop them. This will help you if you’re ever in a situation where bailiffs come knocking at your door.
What they can take
Bailiffs are in their right to take items in your home that belong to you or items that you and someone else own together. They will look for high-value items such as vehicles, jewellery, electronics and any other items they can quickly sell for a high price. Most bailiffs will start by looking for your vehicle to take; they can easily sell cars to make money to pay off debt. However, there are some occasions when bailiffs can’t take your vehicle. These include a car with a disabled badge, a vehicle with a logbook loan, a hire purchase car, a vehicle essential to your job worth under £1,350 and a vehicle that’s also your main home, such as a campervan. Some drivers try to hide their vehicle so the bailiffs can’t take it away. However, they will search neighbouring streets to find your car if they suspect you’ve tried to hide your vehicle.
Can they enter your home?
There are certain rules around bailiffs entering your home; it's good practice to be aware of these rules, so they don’t catch you off guard. If a bailiff has a valid notice of intention to re-enter, they are permitted to use reasonable force to get into your property. Reasonable force doesn’t mean they can knock down your door. If the doors are locked, they will need to come back with a locksmith. If you want to stop bailiffs from entering your home, make sure you keep all of your doors locked and your windows closed and locked on the ground floor. You should also ensure everyone you live with keeps all of the doors locked to prevent them from gaining entry.
How to stop bailiffs from taking your belongings
The best way to stop creditors from pressing and threatening to call bailiffs is by tackling your debt problem before they turn up at your door. You can do this with a number of different debt solutions. One option is to get them to agree to an IVA. You might be asking, how do IVAs work? An IVA is a formal agreement with your creditors that allows you to pay them back at an affordable rate based on your current situation. As part of the agreement, they have to stop all action regarding your debt; this includes bailiffs and threatening letters. As long as you keep up your agreed monthly payments your IVA will last a maximum of 5-6 years, then at the end of that period, the rest of your debt will be written off. There are certain fees and legalities that you need to go through to get an IVA, but they’re a good solution for many people struggling to pay back large amounts of debt. An IVA will also enable you to keep your house, car, and belongings.
What happens when bailiffs take your belongings?
If bailiffs have come to your home and taken your belongings, you need to ensure you get a receipt that itemises everything they’ve taken, and they should sign that receipt so you can keep it as proof. If you act quickly, you can get items back from the bailiffs before they sell them at auction to pay your debts. You will get a notice of sale when they decide to sell your items, with details about when and where the auction will take place. To get your items back, you can pay off your debt in full before they’re sold. This is often not an option for most people. Alternatively, you can negotiate a payment agreement to repay the debt over time. Or, speak to them and ask for more time to pay off your debt in full. You should be given at least seven days' notice before your items are sold; you can complain and get your belongings back if you’re not given enough notice of the auction.