Martin Lewis has praised new tougher regulation of bailiffs as a “genuine step forward” after warning that aggressive debt collection “can and does ruin lives”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that bailiffs will now have to be accredited in order to get the certificate they need to operate. This will involve them signing up to the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) or working for an accredited firm.
New rules for bailiff accreditation
Under current rules, registering with the ECB is voluntary, and while most firms are signed up, some smaller firms are not. People who are unhappy with how a bailiff has treated them will also be able to complain directly to the ECB as part of the new rules.
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin, who has long campaigned for stronger regulation of bailiffs, said he was “delighted” by the announcement.
He said: “Sadly, you're over three times more likely to be in debt crisis if you have a mental health problem, one result of which is that most people who get a bailiff knocking at their door are vulnerable.
“Many bailiffs behave fairly – but some have got away with acting with impunity due to the lack of mandatory independent regulation. We've long campaigned for that to change as aggressive debt collection can and does destroy lives.”
Impact on debt collection
A bailiff, officially called an enforcement agent, can visit your home to collect unpaid debts or enforce a court judgment if you have missed payments and ignored previous warning letters.
New research from Money Advice Trust, the charity which runs National Debtline, reveals that 1.72 million council tax debts were referred to bailiffs in 2025/26 - a figure largely unchanged from the previous year.
Steve Vaid, Chief Executive of Money Advice Trust, said: "This is a meaningful step forward in protecting people who are struggling with debt. For too long our advisers have been hearing stories of aggressive and unfair practices from bailiffs.
"Today's announcement should help to bring the sector under greater control and ensure that the knock on the door in future no longer carries the risk of unfair practices like being forced to make payments you can't afford."
Vikki Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer at StepChange, said: “This welcome announcement marks a strong stepping-stone towards a full statutory regulator – a reform which will help drive up standards in the sector, challenge bad practice, and ensure StepChange clients and those facing bailiff action have access to legal recourse and support where necessary."
