If you have nothing bailiffs can legally take, the case usually goes back to the creditor, but the debt remains and other collection methods may follow.
See your optionsIf you have nothing bailiffs can legally take, they cannot take your essential belongings instead. Usually, the enforcement agent reports back that there are no goods worth taking and returns the case to the creditor. The debt does not disappear, though. The creditor can then try other ways to collect it, depending on what kind of debt it is.
This guide explains what happens during and after the bailiff visit, which fees may still apply, what each type of creditor can do next, and which debt solutions are designed for people with little income and few assets. It covers England and Wales.
Many households own very little that a bailiff is allowed to take. The law protects the things you need for everyday life, including:
Our full guide to what bailiffs can take lists every exemption.
Before assuming you have nothing, think about what is actually at risk. A car you own outright is the item most often taken, because it can be clamped on the road or on your driveway without anyone going inside your home. A second TV, a games console, jewellery or goods you own jointly with someone else can also be taken. A car on hire purchase or PCP that you have not finished paying for usually belongs to the finance company, so it is normally protected.
For most debts, a bailiff cannot force their way into your home. You do not have to let them in. If they are let in, or can see goods from outside, they will look for items of value. They will also usually check whether any vehicles are registered to you.
If they find nothing they can take, a few things can happen:
Fees are added in stages. The compliance fee (£79 for cases started on or after 1 May 2026) is added when the case is passed to the bailiff. The enforcement fee (£247, plus 7.5% of any debt over £1,900) is added when an agent first visits. So your balance with the bailiff company may go up even if nothing is taken.
However, Citizens Advice says you cannot be charged fees if the bailiffs cannot collect the debt, and they may simply return your case to the creditor. If a bailiff demands fees that do not seem right, ask for a breakdown and challenge it. Our bailiff fees guide shows the full scale and how to dispute charges.
When a case comes back from the bailiffs, the creditor decides what to do. Their options depend on the type of debt.
| Type of debt | What the creditor may do next |
|---|---|
| Council tax arrears | Take money from your wages (attachment of earnings) or benefits; apply for a charging order on a home you own (arrears of £1,000 or more); bring bankruptcy proceedings (£5,000 or more); or, in England only, ask the magistrates’ court to consider committal to prison |
| County court judgment (CCJ) | Apply for an attachment of earnings order, a charging order on property, a third party debt order to take money from a bank account, or an order to obtain information about your finances |
| Magistrates’ court fine | Deductions from wages or benefits, a further court hearing to look at your finances, and in the last resort a prison sentence if you have wilfully refused or culpably neglected to pay |
| Parking penalty (PCN) | Pass the case back to bailiffs later, or keep it on hold. Unpaid PCNs remain owed |
Only in England, and only rarely. Councils can ask for committal only after bailiffs report that there were no goods, or not enough goods, to cover the debt. The court must then hold a means enquiry. It can only send you to prison, for up to three months, if it finds you have wilfully refused to pay or culpably neglected to pay. Being genuinely unable to pay is not the same thing. In Wales, councils cannot use committal to prison for council tax arrears. See our guide to bailiffs and council tax for more.
Fines are treated more strictly than other debts. Bailiffs collecting a fine can force entry in some circumstances as a last resort, and the court has extra powers if the fine is not paid. National Debtline explains the process for fines. Contact the court as soon as you can to ask for lower payments.
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Having nothing for bailiffs to take can stop goods being removed, but it does not reduce what you owe. Interest or further charges may continue on some debts. New arrears can lead to fresh enforcement. Letters and visits can also be very stressful, and the problem often comes back when your situation changes, for example if you buy a car or start a new job.
That is why it usually makes sense to look at a formal or informal solution that deals with the debts properly.
A standard Breathing Space gives you 60 days’ legal protection from most creditor action while you get debt advice. During it, bailiffs must not visit your home to take goods. You apply through a debt adviser, not directly.
A DRO is designed for people with low income and few assets. According to GOV.UK, you may qualify if you owe less than £50,000, have less than £75 a month spare income, assets worth less than £2,000 and a vehicle worth less than £4,000. There is no fee. Qualifying debts are usually written off after 12 months. A DRO can cover council tax arrears and many other debts, but not magistrates’ court fines. Read whether a DRO can stop bailiffs for how it affects enforcement.
An informal agreement to pay affordable amounts to your creditors. It is flexible, but creditors do not have to agree and it is not legally binding.
A legally binding agreement to pay what you can afford over a set period, usually five or six years. It can include council tax arrears, CCJs and most consumer debts, but not magistrates’ court fines, child maintenance or student loans. An IVA is usually more suitable if you have some regular spare income, so it may not suit someone with very little.
Bankruptcy can write off most debts but has serious consequences, including for a home you own. It suits some people with no realistic way to repay.
The bailiff cannot take your essential or exempt belongings instead. They will usually offer a payment plan or report to the creditor that enforcement has failed and return the case. The debt still exists, so the creditor may use other methods, such as deductions from wages or benefits, depending on the type of debt. Getting free debt advice early is the best next step.
No. Bailiffs can only take goods that belong to the person who owes the debt, including goods owned jointly. Things owned only by your partner, children or anyone else in your home are protected. Keep receipts, bank statements or other proof of who owns what, and show it to the bailiff if they try to list those items.
They might. The power to take control of goods generally lasts 12 months from the notice of enforcement and can be extended in some situations. If the bailiff believes your circumstances have changed, for example you now own a car, they may visit again. Often, though, a case with no goods is returned to the creditor, who then decides what to do.
The compliance fee is added when the case is passed to the bailiff, and the enforcement fee is added when they first visit, so fees may appear on your account even if nothing is taken. Citizens Advice says you cannot be charged fees if the bailiffs cannot collect the debt. If you think fees are wrong, ask for a breakdown and challenge them.
For most debts, no. For council tax in England, a council can ask the court to consider prison only after bailiffs report no goods or insufficient goods, and only if a court finds wilful refusal or culpable neglect to pay. This is rare, and it is not possible in Wales. Unpaid magistrates’ court fines can also lead to prison as a last resort.
It depends on your situation. If you have low income, few assets and debts under £50,000, a Debt Relief Order may suit you, and there is no fee. Breathing Space can give 60 days of protection while you get advice. A debt management plan, an IVA or bankruptcy may suit others. A free debt adviser can compare them for you.
Free, independent debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.