Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
Last amended by Crime and Policing Act 2026 in 2026. 4 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 reshaped the tribunals system and the law on civil enforcement in England and Wales. Part 1 created a unified two-tier structure — the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal — under a Senior President of Tribunals, with a standard route of appeal on a point of law from the First-tier Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal and onward, with permission, to the Court of Appeal; the Upper Tribunal is a superior court of record and can exercise a limited judicial-review jurisdiction. Part 3 replaced the old remedies of distress with a single codified procedure for 'taking control of goods' (s.62 and Schedule 12), carried out by certificated enforcement agents, and the Act also reformed the enforcement of judgments, attachment of earnings, charging orders, and statutory debt-management and relief schemes.
Key Points
- Created the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal as a unified two-tier structure (s.3)
- The Upper Tribunal is a superior court of record and may exercise a judicial-review jurisdiction in defined classes of case
- Appeals on a point of law from the First-tier Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal (s.11) and onward to the Court of Appeal (s.13)
- The Senior President of Tribunals leads the tribunal judiciary (s.2)
- Replaced distress with the codified 'taking control of goods' procedure (s.62 and Schedule 12)
- Enforcement must be carried out by certificated enforcement agents (s.63)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2022 — Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022
23 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022
22 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2007 — Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
8 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — Nationality and Borders Act 2022
5 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2026 — Crime and Policing Act 2026
4 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Frequently asked questions
- What is the structure of the tribunals system in England and Wales?
- The Act established a unified two-tier structure for tribunals in England and Wales. This structure consists of the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal. The Upper Tribunal is designated as a superior court of record, while the First-tier Tribunal handles initial decisions. Both are organised into chambers and operate under the leadership of the Senior President of Tribunals.
- How do I appeal a decision made by the First-tier Tribunal?
- You can appeal a First-tier Tribunal decision to the Upper Tribunal on any point of law, but you must first obtain permission. If you wish to appeal further from the Upper Tribunal, you can apply to the relevant appellate court, such as the Court of Appeal, also on a point of law and with permission.
- What happened to the old legal process of distress?
- The Act replaced the old legal remedies of distress with a single codified procedure known as 'taking control of goods'. This new statutory procedure is detailed in Schedule 12 of the Act. It provides a standardised method for enforcing debts by seizing goods, replacing the previous common-law and statutory approaches.
- Who is allowed to take control of my goods to enforce a debt?
- Only a certificated enforcement agent or another authorised person is legally permitted to carry out the taking control of goods procedure. This requirement ensures that the enforcement process is conducted by individuals who have been specifically certified under the Act, providing a regulated framework for debt enforcement actions.
- Who leads the tribunal system in England and Wales?
- The Senior President of Tribunals is the leader of the tribunal judiciary. This office provides overall leadership to both the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal. The Senior President oversees the judicial members of these bodies, ensuring the effective administration of the unified two-tier tribunal system established by the Act.