How much does a county court bailiff cost to evict a tenant?
For landlords asking how much bailiffs cost to evict a tenant in the UK, the current HM Courts and Tribunals Service fee for a county court warrant of possession in England and Wales is £152. Locksmith fees, legal support and High Court enforcement charges can increase the overall cost.
Landlords normally use county court bailiffs after obtaining a possession order and applying for a warrant of possession.
This is separate from the earlier fee for issuing a county court possession claim, which is currently £415.
Current court fees landlords should know
- County court possession claim - £415
- Warrant of possession - £152
- High Court writ of possession - £82
The landlord usually pays these fees initially. A money judgment may include rent arrears, court fees and legal costs, although recovery is not guaranteed.
What additional costs can arise?
Landlords may also need to budget for:
- Legal or specialist possession support.
- A locksmith on the eviction date.
- Continuing rent arrears while enforcement is pending.
- Further court applications if enforcement is challenged or delayed.
- High Court enforcement fees where that route is used.
County court bailiffs do not recover rent arrears or property-damage costs during the physical eviction. Separate enforcement may be required.
County court bailiffs vs High Court enforcement officers
The standard route is through the county court, where court bailiffs act under a warrant of possession on the appointed eviction date.
A landlord can apply for permission to transfer enforcement to the High Court. If permission is granted, a writ of possession allows High Court enforcement officers to carry out the eviction.
Are High Court bailiffs more expensive?
High Court enforcement generally costs more. The HMCTS fee to seal a High Court writ of possession is £82, with separate enforcement fees on top.
GOV.UK guidance confirms that transfer to the High Court can provide faster enforcement, although permission and additional costs may be involved.
When do landlords need bailiffs to evict tenants?
An eviction notice does not let a landlord remove a tenant personally. If tenants remain after the notice period, a court order will usually be required.
The process in England will generally involve:
- Serving the correct written notice on an applicable possession ground.
- Applying to the county court if tenants fail to vacate.
- Attending the court hearing and proving the ground relied upon.
- Obtaining an outright possession order, suspended possession order or another court order from the judge.
- Applying for a warrant of possession if the possession date passes and the tenant remains.
- Allowing county court bailiffs or other authorised officers to enforce the order.
- A landlord should not try to evict tenants personally once court enforcement is required.
What happens with a suspended possession order?
A suspended possession order sets conditions the tenant must meet to avoid eviction, such as paying ongoing rent plus an amount towards arrears.
If the tenant complies, the landlord cannot enforce the order. If conditions are breached, a warrant may become available. A postponed possession order can operate differently, so check exactly what the judge granted.
How much notice does a bailiff need to give?
For a residential eviction in England, the tenant must generally receive at least 14 days’ notice of the eviction date before a county court bailiff attends the property. The court will send an eviction notice confirming the date and time of the bailiff appointment.
This notice period gives the tenant time to prepare to leave or, where appropriate, make an application to the court to delay or suspend enforcement. However, receiving an eviction notice does not prevent the eviction from going ahead. If no successful application is made, the county court bailiff can attend on the date stated and recover possession of the property for the landlord.
Landlords should avoid contacting the tenant with threats or attempting to remove them themselves during this period. The eviction should remain with the authorised enforcement process until possession has formally been returned.
How long do bailiffs take to evict a tenant?
There is no single national waiting time for a county court bailiff appointment. How quickly an eviction can be carried out will depend on factors such as the workload of the relevant county court, the availability of bailiff appointments and whether the tenant makes any further applications that delay enforcement.
Once the court has arranged an eviction date, it must give the tenant at least 14 days’ notice of the appointment. Landlords may also receive forms that need to be completed and returned to the court. Current guidance states that the relevant forms should be returned at least three working days before the eviction appointment; failing to provide them on time or accurately can result in the eviction being delayed or cancelled.
Where waiting times for county court bailiffs are significant, landlords may consider transferring enforcement to the High Court. This can provide a faster route in some circumstances, but transfer is not automatic. Permission from the county court may be required, and High Court enforcement will usually involve additional costs.
High Court enforcement officers also have greater flexibility over when enforcement takes place than county court bailiffs, who work to fixed court appointment slots. For landlords considering this route, it is important to establish whether High Court enforcement is appropriate for the case before incurring further court and enforcement fees.
Can a tenant stop a bailiff eviction?
Landlords researching whether their tenant can stop a bailiff eviction should know that tenants can ask the court to delay enforcement, but this does not automatically end the possession case.
Can a tenant suspend an eviction warrant?
A tenant can apply to suspend the warrant. A judge decides whether it is lawful and reasonable to delay eviction. In some circumstances, tenants may also seek to set aside the possession order.
A last-minute application can affect the warrant and overall cost. Specialist advice can help landlords respond with the right evidence.
What happens if the tenant does not answer the door?
Not answering the door does not cancel the bailiff eviction. Court bailiffs control enforcement; the landlord should not force entry personally.
The government advises landlords to meet the bailiffs outside the property, bring spare keys where available and consider arranging a locksmith. The landlord should not enter until the bailiff confirms that they can do so.
What happens on the eviction date?
When the bailiffs arrive, the landlord should support the authorised process rather than carry out the eviction themselves.
Landlords should generally:
- Meet the county court bailiffs at the property.
- Have keys available where possible.
- Arrange a locksmith if access or a lock change may be required.
- Follow the bailiff's instructions before entering.
- Secure the property once possession has been returned.
The landlord is also responsible for pets or belongings left behind, which should be dealt with appropriately rather than discarded immediately.
How did the eviction process change after 1 May 2026?
For private landlords in England, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed the possession framework from 1 May 2026. Section 21 is no longer available for new possession action, so landlords generally need to rely on an appropriate statutory ground and follow the current Section 8 process.
A court can dismiss a claim if the correct procedure has not been followed or the grounds are not proved. That can mean further court fees, lost rent and delay.
AST Assistance's Renters' Rights Act compliance service helps landlords understand the current requirements and identify compliance problems before they become expensive possession issues.
Do the same bailiff rules apply throughout the UK?
No. The county court and High Court fee figures above relate to England and Wales, while the Renters' Rights Act changes from 1 May 2026 apply specifically to England.
Scotland uses a separate tribunal system and Sheriff Officers for lawful removal after an eviction order. Northern Ireland also has a separate court and enforcement framework.
How AST Assistance can help with the eviction process
The bailiff fee is only one part of what an eviction costs. An incorrect notice, incomplete evidence or unsuitable enforcement route can increase court costs, arrears and delay.
AST Assistance works exclusively with landlords and can help you:
- Identify the appropriate possession ground and notice.
- Prepare for county court possession proceedings.
- Deal with rent arrears or other tenancy breaches.
- Understand county court bailiff and High Court enforcement options.
- Respond if a tenant applies to suspend a warrant or delay the eviction.
- Review compliance under the post-May 2026 possession framework.
- Early advice can help protect your legal position and control the cost of recovering possession.
If you are considering eviction or already have a possession order, contact AST Assistance on 01706 619954. Our landlord-focused compliance team can help you progress possession lawfully and with greater certainty.
