Taking Control of Goods: The £1,900 Fee Rule

A notice from an enforcement agent needs prompt attention, but it doesn’t remove your rights or your ability to seek advice.

Taking control of goods is a regulated process used to recover certain unpaid debts in England and Wales. The rules changed on 1 May 2026, including longer time to respond to a Notice of Enforcement and revised enforcement fees.

This is general information, not legal advice. Don’t ignore court papers, enforcement notices or payment deadlines. Check the debt, act within the stated time and get suitable debt advice if you need it.

Key Takeaways

• A Notice of Enforcement now usually gives at least 14 clear days before goods can be taken into control.
• The compliance-stage fee is £79 for cases covered by the 2026 fee scale.
• Civil enforcement-stage fees are £247, plus 7.5% of principal debt above £1,900.
• Enforcement agents can’t take essential household items, goods belonging to someone else or many work tools.
• A controlled goods agreement is serious. Missing payments can allow goods listed in the agreement to be removed and sold.

Taking Control of Goods in 2026: What the Process Means

Taking control of goods is not the same as an ordinary debt collection call. It is a legal enforcement method. It can follow a warrant, liability order, writ of control or another form of authority, depending on the debt.

An enforcement agent may attend a home or business address to seek payment. If payment is not made, they may take control of eligible goods. In many cases, the goods stay where they are under a controlled goods agreement. The debtor agrees not to sell, hide or damage them while making payments.

If the agreement fails, the agent may return to remove the listed goods for sale.

The 2026 amendments apply to warrants and writs lodged or received on or after 1 May 2026. Earlier matters can remain on the previous fee scale. The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 set out the statutory changes.

The process is often described in three stages:

1. Compliance stage begins when the Notice of Enforcement is sent. This is the point to check the debt, contact the enforcement company and consider payment or a realistic arrangement.
2. Enforcement stage starts when an agent attends a relevant address or takes control of goods. This is where a substantial fixed fee can be added.
3. Sale or disposal stage applies when controlled goods are removed and prepared for sale. It is avoidable in many cases where contact and an affordable arrangement are made early.

For businesses, the address matters. A limited company, sole trader and director are not automatically liable for the same debt. Establish who owes the money before discussing company assets, stock or equipment.

A controlled goods agreement does not transfer ownership. It records goods that may be removed if the agreed payments are missed.

THE 14-DAY NOTICE PERIOD

Before taking control of goods, an enforcement agent normally must issue a Notice of Enforcement. Since May 2026, the notice period is at least 14 clear days, rather than seven clear days.

That time is not a reason to wait. Use it to establish whether the debt is correct and whether the enforcement action relates to you, your address or your business. Keep copies of notices, court documents, invoices, payment records and correspondence.

The notice should identify the creditor, the amount due, the enforcement company and how to pay. It should also include information about free debt advice. If the details are unclear, contact the enforcement firm using contact details you have independently checked.

A debt adviser can be particularly useful where you have multiple debts, a low income, disability, health concerns or an unclear liability. For non-business debts, an adviser who requests extra time before the 14 days end can trigger a minimum 28-day period before goods are taken into control.

The Parliamentary material on the 2026 amendments confirms that the changes were intended to alter both procedure and fees. The longer response period gives people more time, but it does not cancel the debt or pause action automatically.

FEES: WHY £1,900 MATTERS

The £1,900 figure is the new civil-enforcement threshold for percentage fees. It applies to the principal debt, not every cost shown in the running balance.

For civil enforcement matters under the new scale, the main fees are:

Stage	Fixed fee from 1 May 2026	Percentage fee
Compliance	£79	None
Enforcement	£247	7.5% of principal debt above £1,900
Sale or disposal	£116	7.5% of principal debt above £1,900

A principal debt of £1,900 does not attract the 7.5% addition at enforcement or sale stage. If the principal debt is £1,901, the percentage fee applies only to the £1 above the threshold. That is 7.5p, before any other permitted fees.

This distinction matters when checking a statement of account. A percentage fee should not be calculated on the whole debt where the rules say it applies only to the amount above £1,900.

High Court enforcement has different figures. The compliance fee remains £79, while the enforcement-stage fixed fee is £200 and the percentage threshold is £1,200. The sale or disposal fixed fee is £116, again with a 7.5% addition above the relevant threshold.

The 2026 changes increased the fixed fees by 5%. A published breakdown of enforcement stages and charges reflects the £247 civil enforcement-stage fee and the revised £1,900 threshold.

Ask for a clear breakdown if you do not understand the balance. It should separate the principal debt, court costs, enforcement fees, payments received and any other charge.

WHAT ENFORCEMENT AGENTS CAN AND CANNOT TAKE

Enforcement agents can take control of goods that belong to the debtor. Ownership is central. A possession at an address is not always proof that it belongs to the person named on the notice.

They generally cannot take:

• Basic household items needed for everyday living, such as beds, cookers, fridges and clothing.
• Goods that belong solely to another person, where ownership can be shown.
• Items subject to hire purchase, lease or rental arrangements where the debtor does not own them.
• Many tools, books, vehicles and equipment needed personally for work or study, subject to the legal limits and facts of the case.
• Items already under another valid controlled goods agreement.

Keep evidence ready where ownership could be disputed. This may include receipts, finance agreements, insurance documents, bank statements, delivery records or a written rental agreement. A simple claim that an item belongs to a friend or family member is unlikely to settle a dispute without evidence.

Entry rules also matter. For many civil debts, an agent cannot force entry to a home on a first visit. They must usually enter peacefully through an open or unlocked door. They cannot push past you, climb through a window or force a locked door in ordinary circumstances.

Different powers can apply in limited cases, including some criminal fines and specific court-authorised enforcement. Do not physically obstruct an agent or put yourself at risk. Ask for identification, record the details and obtain urgent advice where powers appear to have been used improperly.

PRACTICAL ACTION FOR DEBTORS AND BUSINESSES

The first priority is to identify the debt. Check the reference number against your own records. A council tax liability order, unpaid parking penalty, County Court judgment and commercial judgment each follow different routes.

If the debt is yours, contact the enforcement firm before a visit where possible. Explain your circumstances briefly and provide supporting documents where relevant. A realistic offer is more useful than an arrangement you cannot keep.

For a small business, set out whether the debt is personal, a sole-trader liability or owed by a limited company. Provide evidence of third-party ownership for leased machinery, rented equipment or customer goods held on site.

Where the debt is disputed, raise the issue with both the creditor and enforcement company. A dispute does not always stop enforcement immediately. You may need to apply to the court or use the creditor’s formal challenge process.

Use these records to keep the matter clear:

• The Notice of Enforcement and all subsequent letters.
• A dated log of calls, emails and visits.
• Evidence of payments and any agreed payment plan.
• Photos and documents proving third-party ownership.
• Details of vulnerability, health needs or communication requirements.

Responsible collection requires accurate information, proportionate action and professional standards. It also depends on the debtor responding before additional fees are triggered.

CHECKING A CONTROLLED GOODS AGREEMENT

Never sign a controlled goods agreement without reading the inventory. Check each listed item, its description and the claimed ownership. Raise an objection straight away if goods belong to somebody else or are exempt.

The agreement should state the total balance, instalments and payment dates. Ask what will happen if a payment is late and which fee stage would apply. Keep a copy, including any schedule of goods.

If the arrangement is unaffordable, say so before signing. A short-term promise may delay the problem, but it can lead to a missed payment and further enforcement action. Debt-advice organisations can help assess a budget and communicate with creditors where appropriate.

CONCLUSION

Taking control of goods is a formal process, but it is not a process without limits. The 2026 rules give more time to respond and set clearer fee points, including the £1,900 threshold for civil percentage fees.

The strongest position is an informed one. Check the debt, protect evidence of ownership, respond within the notice period and get suitable advice before an avoidable fee or agreement makes the position harder.