Government moves to bring all bailiff firms under ECB oversight
The Government is introducing secondary legislation that will effectively require all enforcement firms to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board, a move welcomed by StepChange as a step towards full statutory regulation.
The Government has announced secondary legislation that will bring all bailiff firms under the oversight of the Enforcement Conduct Board.
The ECB was established in 2022 as a voluntary regulator for the enforcement sector following campaigning from advice organisations. More than 9 in 10 bailiff firms are currently signed up, but there is no legal requirement for firms to join, pay the associated levy or maintain membership.
Under the planned changes, bailiffs will only be able to work for or with enforcement firms accredited by the ECB, effectively requiring firms to sign up if they want to operate.
The move stops short of giving the ECB full statutory powers, which would require primary legislation, but StepChange said the change represented a significant step towards stronger consumer protection and full statutory regulation.
The charity said one in 10 of its clients face bailiff enforcement action, rising to one in three among those in council tax arrears.
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.
“With one in ten StepChange clients facing bailiff enforcement action, rising to one in three for those in council tax arrears, ensuring bailiff firms are subject to ECB oversight makes sense in the first instance and is welcome for our clients and those we seek to represent.
“Crucially, this step brings the ECB closer to the enforcement legal structure, and the next step should be to introduce primary legislation which will give the ECB full legal powers to ensure higher standards of consumer protections.”
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