Business Rates

Bailiffs

If you have not made a suitable payment arrangement, then we have the power, under a liability order, to use bailiffs to collect any amount of business rates due. This will add more costs to the amount you have to pay.

The bailiffs recover the debt you owe by removing and selling your goods. They can remove goods up to the value of the money you owe, plus their own costs. The goods will then be sold at public auction.

If you ask, the bailiffs must give you a receipt for all the money you give them.

Bailiffs are not allowed to break open a door but may enter your property if a door is open, or if it is closed and can be opened without using force.

They can also enter through an open window. When the bailiffs are inside your property, they can force any internal locked doors.

The bailiffs can take almost any goods that you own. If you pay your debt, including all costs, before any goods are taken or sold, the seizure or sale will be stopped.

You can keep your goods in your property if you have done one of the following:

Signed an agreement for the bailiff to stay in your property until you have paid your debt or the goods are removed for sale
Signed an agreement that holds the goods so the bailiff can leave and return at a later date if you do not pay the debt

If the bailiff does return to remove the goods, you do not have to be there.

Before making a payment arrangement, the bailiff will normally hold the goods and ask you to sign an agreement to hand over the goods if you do not pay.

Bailiffs will come to your premises with a removal van and remove any of your goods. They will put them in secure storage before they are sold at auction.

Contact

Business Rate Section (NNDR)

Revenues and Benefits

90 Stour Road

Dagenham

RM10 7JD

Tel: 020 8227 2934

Fax: 020 8227 2089

Email: nndr@lbbd.gov.uk|

Reception hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm