Warrant of control
A court document that authorises an enforcement agent (bailiff) to seize and sell a debtor's goods to satisfy a judgment debt.
Definition
A warrant of control is issued by the County Court to enforce a money judgment. It authorises a certificated enforcement agent to attend the debtor's address, take control of goods up to the value of the debt plus fees, and, if payment is not made, remove and sell those goods. The procedure replaced the old "warrant of execution" under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013. Before seizing goods the enforcement agent must give the debtor a Notice of Enforcement with at least seven clear days' warning.
In practice
Apply for a warrant of control using Form N323 at the County Court that issued the judgment, paying the £83 application fee. The warrant is valid for 12 months. If the debtor has no accessible goods or insufficient goods, consider alternative enforcement methods such as attachment of earnings (Form N337) or a third party debt order (Form N349).