Bailiff Register

Visit the Ministry of Justice Public Register of Certificated Bailiffs.

If the register fails to show a current valid certificate then telephone 020 3334 6355 and make a further enquiry to be certain.

A person holding a bailiff's certificate means he has passed a CRB check and lodged a security or policy with the court to the value £10,000. It protects the authority if the bailiff absconds with the money. This is why bailiff companies must assign a named Bailiff in Charge of each case. The certificate excludes the bailiff from liability from committing trespass and the document itself is a form of permission from the court to enter a debtor's home without permission.

This is not the same as breaking and entering, pushing past an occupant or subjecting someone to violence. It only means he can take control of goods and handle money.

Bailiffs qualifying criteria is provided in Regulation 3, Regulation 4 and Regulation 6 of the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014.

It is a criminal offence for a bailiff to take control of goods without a certificate.

Example bailiff's certificate:

If your bailiff does not have a valid certificate then you can make a formal complaint here.