Luke Charters MP has welcomed the Labour government’s decision to introduce mandatory independent oversight of private bailiffs, describing it as proof that politics can deliver meaningful change for people facing injustice.
Under the reforms, private bailiffs operating in England and Wales will have to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board or work for an accredited enforcement company before they can obtain or renew the certificate required to work.
The measures will ensure bailiffs meet consistent professional standards, while people facing enforcement action will gain access to an independent complaints process when they believe they have been treated unfairly.
Charters, the Labour MP for York Outer, has led the parliamentary campaign for stronger regulation over the past two years.
He said:
“Chuffed the government will regulate bailiffs, a campaign I’ve been proud to lead over the last couple of years.
“After tabling bills, debates and meeting victims, today’s real proof that politics can work for people.
“This is a win for everyone on the wrong side of injustice.”
Charters secured a Westminster Hall debate on bailiff regulation in February 2025, using it to highlight disturbing examples of vulnerable people being subjected to aggressive, intimidating and unlawful behaviour.
He subsequently introduced the Regulation of Bailiffs (Assessment and Report) Bill, which called for an assessment of the existing system and the case for statutory regulation of debt collection and civil enforcement.
Charters argued that although the Enforcement Conduct Board already oversees most of the industry voluntarily, the absence of mandatory participation allowed some rogue operators to avoid its standards and complaints procedures.
During his parliamentary campaign, he highlighted reports of bailiffs forcing entry into the home of a disabled person, seizing equipment provided to support that person’s disability and pressuring households into repayment arrangements they could not afford.
Charters also drew attention to the damaging relationship between aggressive debt collection and poor mental health.
The Labour government’s announcement directly addresses the gap he identified by making independent oversight compulsory rather than optional.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman said:
“Bailiffs have an important job to do, but with that responsibility must come high standards.
“When someone is already struggling with debt, the last thing they should face is intimidating behaviour, unfair treatment or being pushed into excessive repayment arrangements they cannot afford.
“That’s why we’re strengthening the rules. All private bailiffs will have to meet proper, professional standards and will be subject to independent oversight—giving people greater protection and somewhere to turn when things go wrong.”
The reform forms part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s programme of practical “everyday fixes” intended to make life fairer and ease pressures on household finances.
Alongside stronger bailiff regulation, the government has announced new protections against cowboy builders and other rogue tradespeople.
A government-supported Approved Code will help households identify reputable home-improvement businesses that meet higher standards of customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.
A separate Trusted Payments service will allow money for building projects to be held securely and released in stages as agreed work is completed.
The wider package is designed to protect consumers while supporting the many responsible bailiffs and tradespeople who treat customers professionally and should not be undercut by rogue operators.
Campaigners have welcomed the move on bailiffs. Martin Lewis, chair of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said mandatory regulation would mean bailiffs must follow the rules or risk losing their licence.
The decision represents a significant victory for Charters and the victims whose experiences he brought before Parliament.
It also demonstrates the value of Labour backbenchers using their position to raise individual cases, build support for reform and work constructively with ministers to secure change.
People in debt still have obligations to meet, and responsible enforcement remains necessary. However, financial difficulty should never provide an excuse for intimidation, humiliation or abuse.
By closing the regulatory loophole and creating an independent route for complaints, Labour is establishing a fairer balance between effective enforcement and the protection of vulnerable people.
For Charters, the announcement is the outcome of two years of persistence in Parliament and engagement with those affected. For families facing a knock at the door during an already difficult period, it promises clearer standards, greater accountability and somewhere independent to turn when things go wrong.
The policy details are confirmed by the government’s announcement, with Charters’ earlier campaign documented in Hansard.
