ECB says Government plans to regulate bailiffs is too slow

The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) says that the Government’s plans to regulate bailiffs are too slow, stating that it is exactly one year after the Ministry of Justice announced that it would legislate to make independent regulation of bailiffs mandatory.

The enforcement industry receives over 7 million cases for enforcement every year and collects over £1 billion. The ECB was set up as an independent body that sets standards for fair enforcement, takes action where breaches are identified, and provides an independent complaints service for members of the public who feel they have been treated unfairly by an enforcement firm or agent.

At the moment, it is not currently a statutory requirement for enforcement firms to be authorised by the ECB, and some companies have refused to sign up to the ECB’s standards or oversight. The ECB says that as a result, hundreds of thousands of people every year are currently experiencing enforcement action by unregulated providers. This unfairness prompted the Ministry of Justice to commit, on 9th June 2025, to introducing mandatory, statutory regulation of all enforcement (bailiff) services. However, there has been no visible progress since then on delivering this change.

The ECB has warned that enforcement in England and Wales is now divided along deeply unfair lines. Firms that have signed up to ECB oversight are held to robust standards — including on how they support vulnerable people, handle complaints and agree payment arrangements. But those that have refused oversight can simply opt out, sidestep these protections, and continue operating without proper scrutiny.

Chris Nichols, CEO at the ECB said “Regulation of enforcement (bailiff) services must be mandatory so that everyone who experiences enforcement has the same protections. It cannot be right for companies to simply refuse to comply with our standards for fair enforcement.

“Statutory regulation is supported by the public, debt charities and the majority of the enforcement industry itself. Government has rightly committed to act – but a year on, there is still no clear plan.

“Every year hundreds of thousands of people are receiving enforcement action from unregulated providers. This is not fair and Government should now address this by providing a clear timetable for legislation.”