bailiffs

[focusjc85]

My partner lives with his dad and when his dad recently went away he discovered a letter from bailiffs requesting money or they can peacefully enter the house they will remove property. We don't believe his dad has much stuff to pay off his debts with belonging but my partner does have expensive things ie playstation lcd tv's and so on the me and him have paid for ourselves. if they enter the house can they take my partners stuff as there are problems with the frames on the doors and we are unable to fit locks at the moment?

[Taylortax]

Your partner should get in touch with the Bailiffs as soon as possible in writing to say that he lives there as well, that he is not party to his father's finances and that he has a lot of personal effects and equipment there which is not eligible to be taken in settlement of his father's debts.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Is the debt for Council Tax?

If it is then I would be careful saying you live there as well if he hasnt declared your partner. If he has declared your partner then they will both me liable for the debt.

[focusjc85]

if i put a lock on the door where all the stuff is can they break that door down and gain access to the room? Thanks for your anwers

[ummmm]

Once you let them into the house they can open anything that is locked. They cannot take anything that does not belong to the debtor.

Do you not have locks on the front door then?

[focusjc85]

yes but the back door is broken and his dad is so lazy that he hasn't got it fix and every time we try he ends up breaking it again. He doesn't have receipts for some stuff as its quite old but still valuable does this cause him problems?

[themas]

The first & most important thing to do is to get all the doors giving access to the house locked. If his father can't be bothered to do it, your partner should. The bailiffs can be denied entry when they first come, but they can come in through an open or unlocked door or window even if they have been told not to.

Your partner's possessions are at risk if they get in. They will very likely refuse to accept his statements that the goods belong to him & not his father unless he can provide proof of ownership. There may be a way round this by him doing a statutory declaration but he needs advice on this. There is a website - I think it is www. bailiffsonline.co.uk - which may be helpful.

May be easier to move your partner's stuff to your place?

[Whoever]

In the meantime, get your partner to put a note or label on all his possession saying that "this is the possesion of XXX and should not be removed." Also if he's got receipts to back up the purchases, he should photocopy them and have them available.