How clear days are counted
- The day the notice is given is not counted.
- The day of the visit is not counted either. There have to be the full number of days in between.
- Sundays, bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day are left out of the count.
- Saturdays are counted.
The earliest day an agent can take control of goods is therefore the day after the last counted day. That day can itself be a Sunday or a bank holiday, because visits are allowed on any day between 6am and 9pm.
Which period applies
| Situation | Minimum period |
|---|---|
| Enforcement that began on or after 1 May 2026 | 14 clear days |
| A debt advice provider asked for more time before the first period ran out | 28 clear days |
| Enforcement that began before 1 May 2026 | 7 clear days |
| A court has ordered a shorter period | Whatever the order says |
The 28-day period is not available for business debts that fall outside the Breathing Space scheme, and the request has to come from a debt advice provider.
A check, not a ruling
The result shows the earliest date the regulations allow for the date entered. An agent may come later than that. Whether a notice was validly given on a particular day can depend on how it was delivered.
Common questions
Do weekends count towards the 14 days?
Saturdays count. Sundays do not.
Does the count start from the date on the letter or the date it arrived?
The period runs from when the notice is given, which is when it is delivered. The date printed on the letter is the earliest that could be.
Can bailiffs come on the 14th day?
No. The notice has to give 14 clear days, so the earliest visit is the day after the 14th counted day.
Which bank holidays are left out?
The bank holidays for England and Wales published on GOV.UK, together with Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Want to talk it through with someone?
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Free debt advice is available
These organisations give free, impartial debt advice and are independent of Bailiff Support Team. Nobody has to use a paid or commercial service to get help with their debts, and using one of the free services does not reduce the options available. Their advisers can also ask an enforcement firm to extend a notice period or apply for Breathing Space where it fits.
- MoneyHelperGovernment-backed. Finds a free debt adviser nearby or online.
- StepChange Debt CharityFree debt advice online and by phone.
- Citizens AdviceDetailed help with bailiffs, online and in person.
- National DebtlineFree advice and sample letters, run by the Money Advice Trust.