County court bailiffs and warrants of control

Most a county court warrant can cover

£5,000no limit for regulated credit agreements

How long a warrant lasts

12 monthscan be extended by the court

Fee to ask for a suspension

£16form N245, from 13 July 2026

Forced entry to a home

Nobusiness premises only

How a judgment becomes a warrant

1. Judgment

   The court decides money is owed and sends an order saying how much, by when, and whether in full or by instalments.

2. A payment is missed

   A creditor can apply for a warrant once the person has failed to pay, or has fallen behind with at least one instalment.

3. The creditor applies

   The creditor sends form N323 and a £96 fee. A warrant cannot be issued for £10 or less. Within six years of the judgment no permission is needed.

4. The warrant is issued

   HM Courts and Tribunals Service guidance, published in May 2026, says the court “will issue the warrant to a certified enforcement agency that covers the defendant’s address”.

5. At least 14 clear days’ notice

   Notice, then a visit

   The same guidance says that if payment is not made within 15 working days of the warrant being issued, “the enforcement agent will call at the address”.

Some older official pages still say a person is given 7 days to pay before a visit. The regulations that govern taking control of goods were changed on 1 May 2026, and the minimum notice is now 14 clear days.

County court or High Court?

The amount owed decides where a creditor can go.

The last row matters for credit cards, personal loans and other borrowing regulated by the Consumer Credit Act. A judgment on one of those debts stays in the county court. High Court enforcement officers covers the other route.

Asking the court to suspend the warrant

Form N245 asks the court to suspend a warrant, to change the instalments on the judgment, or both. GOV.UK describes it this way: “You may be able to stop the bailiff from visiting, by filling in the N245 application form. Say on the form how you’ll repay the money.”

• The form asks for income, outgoings and an offer of payment.
• The court fee is £16 from 13 July 2026. Help with fees is available on a low income.
• The creditor is asked whether they agree. If they accept a suspension but not the amount offered, a court officer decides what is affordable. If they oppose any suspension, the court arranges a hearing.
• If the offer is accepted, GOV.UK says “the warrant will be stopped as long as you keep up with the payments”.
• If the payments are then missed, the creditor can have the warrant reissued without paying another fee.

Where someone says they do not owe the money, or never received the claim, the route is different: an application on form N244 to set the judgment aside, with a fee of £321.

Rather talk it through with someone? Request a call

What agents can do under a warrant of control

When there is nothing worth taking

HM Courts and Tribunals Service tells creditors that agents “will only remove goods if they think they will make enough to pay something towards the warrant after the cost of removing and selling them at auction”, and that second-hand furniture and electrical items are not usually taken “if they are not likely to fetch very much at auction”.

If there are no goods to take, the agent cannot take any more action on the warrant. That does not cancel the judgment. The creditor can still apply for other kinds of enforcement, such as deductions from earnings, an order freezing money in a bank account, or a charge on a property.

Common questions