Use of bailiffs to collect council tax debt in 2025/26
Case reference FOI2026/00647
Received 20 April 2026
Published 29 April 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we would like to request the following information. 1. Tax year 25/26: The number of times between 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 that private bailiffs/enforcement agents have been instructed to enforce council tax debts owed to the local authority. By “private bailiffs/enforcement agents” we mean those who are self-employed or who work for private companies, including as high court enforcement officers. Please include cases where local authority employees have visited a property to enforce a warrant of control. 2. Do you currently have a policy of exempting recipients of Council Tax Support / Reduction from the use of bailiff action? (Yes/No)
Response
1. Tax year 25/26: The number of times between 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 that private bailiffs/enforcement agents have been instructed to enforce council tax debts owed to the local authority. 2155
By “private bailiffs/enforcement agents” we mean those who are self-employed or who work for private companies, including as high court enforcement officers. Please include cases where local authority employees have visited a property to enforce a warrant of control.
2. Do you currently have a policy of exempting recipients of Council Tax Support / Reduction from the use of bailiff action? (Yes/No) No
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.