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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Helena Horton Environment reporter

Water firms sent bailiffs to tens of thousands of homes for debts under £1,000

Bailiff knocking on a door
South West Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water made the most use of bailiffs in 2025, according to Efra. Photograph: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people a year have bailiffs sent to their homes by water companies in England and Wales, data shows.

Many thousands of these visits by debt collectors were for sums worth under £1,000, according to the data released by the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs (Efra) committee. Bailiffs are debt collectors instructed by a court, who can seize items from those in debt, including electrical items, jewellery or vehicles.

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