Local Government Finance Act 1988

Distress E+W

7 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that where a magistrates’ court has made a liability order against a person (the debtor) the authority concerned may levy the appropriate amount by distress and sale of the debtor’s goods.

(2) The appropriate amount is the aggregate of—

(a) an amount equal to any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the liability order was made, and

(b) a sum (of an amount determined in accordance with prescribed rules) in respect of the charges connected with the distress.

(3) The regulations may include provision that—

(a) a distress may be made anywhere in England and Wales;

(b) a distress shall not be deemed unlawful on account of any defect or want of form in the liability order and no person making a distress shall be deemed a trespasser on that account;

(c) no person making a distress shall be deemed a trespasser from the beginning on account of any subsequent irregularity in making the distress, but a person sustaining special damage by reason of the irregularity may recover full satisfaction for the special damage (and no more) by proceedings in trespass or otherwise.

(4) The regulations may include provision that a person may appeal to a magistrates’ court if he is aggrieved by the levy of, or an attempt to levy, a distress.

(5) The regulations may include—

(a) provision prescribing the procedure to be followed for initiating an appeal;

(b) provision prescribing the procedure to be followed in dealing with an appeal;

(c) provision as to the powers of the court (which may include provision as to the discharge of goods distrained or the payment of compensation in respect of goods distrained and sold).