2026 Enforcement Fee Changes: What Local Authorities and Commercial Clients Need to Know

From 1 May 2026, important changes to the Taking Control of Goods Regulations will come into effect across England and Wales, introducing revised enforcement fees and processes. 

These are the most significant changes to the enforcement sector in more than a decade and will affect all new cases issued from 1 May onwards.

These changes represent a significant shift in how enforcement cases will be managed, affecting processes, timelines and costs across the industry. Introduced through the Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026, they amend both the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 and the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014. They include revised enforcement fees, extended compliance periods and updates to certain High Court Enforcement procedures, creating the framework that will apply to all new cases issued from 1 May 2026 onwards.

For local authorities and commercial businesses, the changes will impact compliance timelines, enforcement costs and customer engagement throughout the recovery process. 

At Dukes, we have already implemented the necessary operational and compliance updates to ensure a smooth transition for our clients while continuing to deliver ethical enforcement and professional debt recovery services. 

Revised enforcement fees

The 2026 changes include updates to the statutory fee framework contained within the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014. These changes introduce a 5% increase in fees and an increase to the thresholds that will apply to all new cases issued from 1 May 2026.

This means, from 1 May 2026, the revised statutory fee structure will change to:

• Compliance Stage: £79

• Enforcement Stage: £247 plus 7.5% on debts over £1,900

• Sale/Disposal Stage: £116 plus 7.5% on debts over £1,900

The debt threshold for percentage-based fees will increase from £1,500 to £1,900.

The enforcement fees increase is a welcome change and is intended to support the continued delivery of compliant and professional enforcement services across England and Wales, allowing enforcement agencies to maintain investment in operational standards, technology, customer support and regulatory compliance.

Extended compliance period

One of the most significant operational changes is the extension of the Notice before Enforcement period. This statutory period (otherwise known as the compliance period), which follows the issue of a Notice of Enforcement and during which an enforcement agent cannot take enforcement action, will be extended.

• From 1 May 2026, this period will increase from 7 to 14 clear days, providing debtors with additional time to pay or engage before a visit can take place and extending the recovery timeline.

• Where a registered debt adviser notifies us that debt advice is being sought, a further 14-day extension may apply, meaning enforcement action could be delayed for up to 28 clear days in total.

The intention behind the change is to encourage earlier engagement and provide debtors with additional opportunities to resolve matters before enforcement visits take place.

Changes to High Court Enforcement

The updated regulations also introduce changes to the High Court Enforcement process. 

Where no contact is made during an initial enforcement visit, enforcement agents will be required to provide an additional opportunity for engagement before proceeding with further action. 

The aim is to improve fairness in the process while encouraging earlier communication and resolution. 

What this means for Dukes' clients

All cases issued on or after 1 May 2026 will be subject to the updated regulations, including the revised fee structure, extended compliance periods and updated enforcement procedures.

At Dukes, we have completed the required updates to our systems, processes and documentation ahead of implementation to ensure continuity of service for our clients. 

As a proud provider of ethical enforcement and debt recovery services, we will continue to focus on:

• Regulatory compliance

• Transparent communication

• Effective recovery strategies

• Customer engagement and vulnerability support

• Protecting client reputation throughout the enforcement process

We will continue to work in partnership with our clients, including local authorities, commercial businesses, landlords, property managers, and service providers across England and Wales, delivering enforcement solutions that balance strong recovery performance with professionalism and compliance.

We would be pleased to discuss the potential impact of these changes on enforcement fees, recovery timelines and case progression planning.  For further information about how the 2026 regulatory changes may affect your organisation, please contact the Dukes team.