Southern Water among highest users of bailiffs in industry

Between 2019 and 2025, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, South West Water and Northumbrian Water were some of the most significant users of bailiffs, according to data published by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee.

There were also high peaks of overall usage by some companies, the figures show. In 2019 Southern Water instructed bailiffs on 15,707 occasions.

The overall use of bailiffs across the industry peaked in 2023 and 2024, even while some companies used them less in this period.

A graph showing use of bailiffs from 2019 to 2025 (Image: Efra)

Bailiffs, or enforcement agents, are instructed to act by a company following a court order.

Customers on the Priority Services Register or identified as ill, disabled or elderly are usually exempt from court orders.

Firms such as Northumbrian said they do not use bailiffs for customers who are known to be in receipt of means-tested benefits. However, Southern Water told the committee that these customers were eligible for litigation.

Efra said many companies had a moratorium or changed their policies during the pandemic.

Wessex Water is not included in the figures as it told the committee they had not used bailiffs over the last 10 years.

The committee said it will write to Citizens Advice and the Consumer Council for Water to highlight the use of bailiffs across the sector.

Efra committee chairman Alistair Carmichael said: “The committee has used its unique position to reveal this information from water companies, which are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act despite providing an essential public service.

“It is interesting and concerning to see the extent of their use of bailiffs over time and to see such differing approaches.

“The figures should be seen in the context of various cost-of-living shocks that have hit households over recent years.

“For any family or individual to be subject to legal action is no small matter and can be a cause of severe stress and anxiety.

“We would urge any company to review its practices and ensure they are as sparing and compassionate as possible.

“There are other findings that rouse curiosity. Why did bailiff use increase so rapidly after the pandemic? Did anyone look into it at the time? We have referred this information to Citizens Advice and the Consumer Council for Water for further scrutiny.”

A Southern Water spokesman said: “We work hard to ensure customers who are struggling get the support they need, such as our social tariff schemes – these offer at least 45 per cent off bills, and which from April will benefit almost 200,000 households, or around 10 per cent of our customers.

“We’re delivering our biggest ever investment plan, spending around £8.5 billion to meet the expectations of our customers in protecting the environment and improving services.

"Alongside shareholder investment, we rely on bill payments to deliver these improvements.”