Legislation – Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

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Introduction

Part 1
Tribunals and Inquiries

Chapter 1 Tribunal judiciary: independence and Senior President

1 Independence of tribunal judiciary

2 Senior President of Tribunals

Chapter 2 First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal

Establishment

3 The First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal

Members and composition of tribunals

4 Judges and other members of the First-tier Tribunal

5 Judges and other members of the Upper Tribunal

6 Certain judges who are also judges of First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal

6A Certain judges who are also judges of the First-tier Tribunal

7 Chambers: jurisdiction and Presidents

8 Senior President of Tribunals: power to delegate

Review of decisions and appeals

9 Review of decision of First-tier Tribunal

10 Review of decision of Upper Tribunal

11 Right to appeal to Upper Tribunal

11A Finality of decisions by Upper Tribunal about permission to appeal

12 Proceedings on appeal to Upper Tribunal

13 Right to appeal to Court of Appeal etc.

14 Proceedings on appeal to Court of Appeal etc.

14A Appeal to Supreme Court: grant of certificate by Upper Tribunal

14B Appeal to Supreme Court: permission to appeal

14C Appeal to Supreme Court: exclusions


“Judicial review”

15 Upper Tribunal’s “judicial review” jurisdiction

16 Application for relief under section 15(1)

17 Quashing orders under section 15(1): supplementary provision

18 Limits of jurisdiction under section 15(1)

19 Transfer of judicial review applications from High Court

20 Transfer of judicial review applications from the Court of Session

20A Procedural steps where application transferred

21 Upper Tribunal’s “judicial review” jurisdiction: Scotland

Miscellaneous

22 Tribunal Procedure Rules

23 Practice directions

24 Mediation

25 Supplementary powers of Upper Tribunal

26 First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal: sitting places

27 Enforcement

28 Assessors

29 Costs or expenses

29ZA Enabling the public to see and hear proceedings

29ZB Offences of recording or transmission in relation to broadcasting

29ZC Offences of recording or transmitting participation through live link

29ZD Interpretation

CHAPTER 2A Exercise of tribunal functions by authorised persons

29A Meaning of “authorised person” and “judicial office holder”

29B Directions and independence: authorised persons

29C Protection of authorised persons

29D Costs or expenses in legal proceedings: authorised persons

29E Indemnification of authorised persons

Chapter 3 Transfer of tribunal functions

30 Transfer of functions of certain tribunals

31 Transfers under section 30: supplementary powers

32 Power to provide for appeal to Upper Tribunal from tribunals in Wales

33 Power to provide for appeal to Upper Tribunal from tribunals in Scotland

34 Power to provide for appeal to Upper Tribunal from tribunals in Northern Ireland

35 Transfer of Ministerial responsibilities for certain tribunals

36 Transfer of powers to make procedural rules for certain tribunals

37 Power to amend lists of tribunals in Schedule 6

38 Orders under sections 30 to 36: supplementary

Chapter 4 Administrative matters in respect of certain tribunals

39 The general duty

40 Tribunal staff and services

41 Provision of accommodation

42 Fees

43 Report by Senior President of Tribunals

Chapter 5 Oversight of administrative justice system, tribunals and inquiries

44 The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council

45 Abolition of the Council on Tribunals

Chapter 6 Supplementary

46 Delegation of functions by Lord Chief Justice etc.

47 Co-operation in relation to judicial training, guidance and welfare

48 Consequential and other amendments, and transitional provisions

49 Orders and regulations under Part 1: supplemental and procedural provisions

Part 2
Judicial appointments

50 Judicial appointments: “judicial-appointment eligibility condition”

51 “Relevant qualification” in section 50: further provision

52 Meaning of “gain experience in law” in section 50

53 Transfer from salaried to fee-paid judicial office

54 Continuation of judicial office after normal retirement date

55 Appointment of deputy Circuit judges

56 Appointment of deputy district judges,

57 Deputy, and temporary additional, Masters etc.

58 Appointment of temporary assistants to Judge Advocate General

59 Members and chairmen of certain Appeals Commissions

60 Appointment as Chairman of Law Commission

61 Orders permitting disclosures to Judicial Appointments Commission

Part 3
Enforcement by taking control of goods

Chapter 1 Procedure

62 Enforcement by taking control of goods

63 Enforcement agents

64 Certificates to act as an enforcement agent

65 Common law rules replaced

66 Pre-commencement enforcement not affected

67 Transfer of county court enforcement

68 Magistrates’ courts warrants of control

69 County court warrants of control etc.

70 Power of High Court to stay execution

Chapter 2 Rent arrears recovery

71 Abolition of common law right

72 Commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR)

73 Landlord

74 Lease

75 Commercial premises

76 Rent

77 The rent recoverable

78 Intervention of the court

79 Use of CRAR after end of lease

80 Agricultural holdings

81 Right to rent from sub-tenant

82 Off-setting payments under a notice

83 Withdrawal and replacement of notices

84 Recovery of sums due and overpayments

85 Contracts for similar rights to be void

86 Amendments

87 Interpretation of Chapter

Chapter 3 General

88 Abolition of Crown preference

89 Application to the Crown

90 Regulations

Part 4
Enforcement of judgments and orders

91 Attachment of earnings orders: deductions at fixed rates

92 Attachment of earnings orders: finding the debtor’s current employer

93 Payment by instalments: making and enforcing charging orders

94 Charging orders: power to set financial thresholds

95 Application for information about action to recover judgment debt

96 Action by the court

97 Departmental information requests

98 Information orders

99 Responding to a departmental information request

100 Information order: required information not held etc.

101 Using the information about the debtor

102 Offence of unauthorised use or disclosure

103 Regulations

104 Interpretation

105 Application and transitional provision

Part 5
Debt management and relief

Chapter 1 Administration orders

106 Administration orders

Chapter 2 Enforcement restriction orders

107 Enforcement restriction orders

Chapter 3 Debt relief orders

108 Debt relief orders and debt relief restrictions orders etc.

Chapter 4 Debt management schemes

109 Debt management schemes

110 Debt repayment plans

111 Approval by supervising authority

112 Applications for approval

113 Terms of approval

114 Discharge from specified debts

115 Presentation of bankruptcy petition

116 Remedies other than bankruptcy

117 Charging of interest etc.

118 Stopping supplies of gas or electricity

119 Existing county court proceedings to be stayed

120 Registration of plans

121 Other debt management arrangements in force

122 Right of appeal

123 Dealing with appeals

124 Charges by operator of approved scheme

125 Procedure for termination

126 Terminating an approval

127 Alternatives to termination

128 Effects of end of approval

129 The supervising authority

130 Regulations

131 Main definitions

132 Expressions relating to debts

133 Periods of protection

Part 6
Protection of cultural objects on loan

134 Protected objects

135 Effect of protection

136 Relevant museums and galleries

137 Interpretation

138 Crown application

Part 7
Miscellaneous

139 Enforcement by enforcement officers

140 Supplementary

141 Judicial review: power to substitute decision

142 Recovery of sums payable under compromises involving ACAS

143 Appeals in relation to design rights

Part 8
General

144 Protected functions of the Lord Chancellor

145 Power to make supplementary or other provision

146 Repeals

147 Extent

148 Commencement

149 Short title

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Senior President of Tribunals

SCHEDULE 2 Judges and other members of the First-tier Tribunal

SCHEDULE 3 Judges and other members of the Upper Tribunal

SCHEDULE 4 Chambers and Chamber Presidents: further provision

SCHEDULE 5 Procedure in First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal

SCHEDULE 6 Tribunals for the purposes of sections 30 to 36

SCHEDULE 7 Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council

SCHEDULE 8 Tribunals and Inquiries: consequential and other amendments

SCHEDULE 9 Tribunals: transitional provision

SCHEDULE 10 Amendments relating to judicial appointments

SCHEDULE 11 District judges and deputy district judges

SCHEDULE 12 Taking control of goods

SCHEDULE 13 Taking control of goods: amendments

SCHEDULE 14 Rent arrears recovery: amendments

SCHEDULE 15 Attachment of earnings orders: deductions at fixed rates

SCHEDULE 16 Administration orders: consequential amendments

SCHEDULE 17 Part 7A of the Insolvency Act 1986

SCHEDULE 18 Schedule 4ZA to the Insolvency Act 1986

SCHEDULE 19 Schedule 4ZB to the Insolvency Act 1986

SCHEDULE 20 Debt relief orders: consequential amendments

SCHEDULE 21 Regulations under sections 111 and 113

SCHEDULE 22 Compulsory purchase: consequential amendments

SCHEDULE 23 Repeals

Changes to legislation:

Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, SCHEDULE 20 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.


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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 20Debt relief orders: consequential amendments

Section 108(3)

Part 1Amendments to the Insolvency Act 1986

1

The Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) is amended as follows.

2

(1)

In section 31 (disqualification of bankrupt) in subsection (1)—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (a)
(before “or”) insert—

“(aa)

a moratorium period under a debt relief order applies in relation to him,”;

(b)

in paragraph (b) after “order” insert
or a debt relief restrictions order
.

(2)

In the heading to that section after “bankrupt” insert
or person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made
.

F13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

In section 384(2)(meaning of prescribed amount)—

(a)

at the beginning of the list of provisions insert
section 251S(4);
;

(b)

in the list omit “and” after “section 361(2);” and

(c)

at the end of the list insert
paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 4ZA,
.

5

(1)

Section 385(1)
(definitions) is amended as follows.

(2)

In the definition of “the debtor”, before paragraph (a) insert—

“(za)

in relation to a debt relief order or an application for such an order, has the same meaning as in Part 7A,”.

(3)

After the definition of “debtor’s petition” insert—

““debt relief order” means an order made by the official receiver under Part 7A;”.

6

(1)

Section 390 (persons not qualified to act as insolvency practitioners) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (4) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)

a moratorium period under a debt relief order applies in relation of him,”.

(3)

In subsection (5) after “order” insert
or a debt relief restrictions order
.

7

(1)

Section 399 (appointment etc of official receivers) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) for “or individual voluntary arrangement”
(in both places) substitute
, individual voluntary arrangement, debt relief order or application for such an order
.

(3)

In subsection (4) for “or individual voluntary arrangement” substitute
, individual voluntary arrangement, debt relief order or application for such an order
.

8

In section 412(1)
(individual insolvency rules) for “Parts VIII to XI” substitute
Parts 7A to 11
.

9

(1)

Section 415 (fees orders) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) before paragraph (a) insert—

“(za)

the costs of persons acting as approved intermediaries under Part 7A,”.

(3)

In that subsection in paragraph (a) for “Parts VIII to XI” substitute
Parts 7A to 11
.

10

In section 415A (fees orders: general), before subsection (1) insert—

“A1

The Secretary of State—

(a)

may by order require a person or body to pay a fee in connection with the grant or maintenance of a designation of that person or body as a competent authority under section 251U, and

(b)

may refuse to grant, or may withdraw, any such designation where a fee is not paid.”

11

In section 418(1)
(monetary limits)—

(a)

at the beginning of the list of provisions insert—
section 251S(4)
(maximum amount of credit which a person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made may obtain without disclosure of his status);
;

(b)

at the end of the list of provisions insert—
paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 4ZA (maximum amount of a person’s debts, monthly surplus income and property for purposes of obtaining a debt relief order);
.

12

(1)

Section 426A (disqualification from Parliament) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) after “bankruptcy restrictions order” insert
or a debt relief restrictions order
.

(3)

In subsection (5) after “interim order” insert
, or a debt relief restrictions order or an interim debt relief restrictions order,
.

(4)

In subsection (6) after “bankruptcy restrictions undertaking” insert
or a debt relief restrictions undertaking
.

13

(1)

Section 426B (devolution) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) after “Wales,” insert
or makes a debt relief restrictions order or interim debt relief restrictions order in respect of such a member,
.

(3)

In subsection (2) after “bankruptcy restrictions undertaking” insert
or a debt relief restrictions undertaking
.

14

(1)

Schedule 9 is amended as follows.

(2)

In paragraph 1 for “Parts VIII to XI” substitute
Parts 7A to 11
.

(3)

In paragraph 5 for “Parts VIII to XI” substitute
Parts 7A to 11
.

(4)

In paragraph 6 for “Parts VIII to XI” substitute
Parts 7A to 11
.

(5)

After paragraph 7 insert—

“Debt relief orders

7A

Provision as to the manner in which the official receiver is to carry out his functions under Part 7A.

7B

Provision as to the manner in which any requirement that may be imposed by the official receiver on a person under Part 7A is to take effect.

7C

Provision modifying the application of Part 7A in relation to an individual who has died at a time when a moratorium period under a debt relief order applies in relation to him.

Debt relief restrictions orders and undertakings

7D

Provision about debt relief restrictions orders, interim orders and undertakings, including provision about evidence.

Register of debt relief orders and debt relief restrictions orders etc

7E

Provision about the register required to be maintained by section 251W and the information to be contained in it, including provision—

(a)

enabling the amalgamation of the register with another register;

(b)

enabling inspection of the register by the public.”

15

(1)

The Table in Schedule 10 (punishment of offences) is amended as follows.

(2)

In the entry relating to section 31, in the column describing the general nature of the offence, after “bankrupt” insert
or person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made
.

(3)

Insert the following entries after the entry relating to section 235(5)—

“251O(1)

False representations or omissions in making an application for a debt relief order.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251O(2)(a)

Failing to comply with duty in connection with an application for a debt relief order.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

2 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251O(2)(b)

False representations or omissions in connection with duty in relation to an application for a debt relief order.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251O(4)(a)

Failing to comply with duty in connection with a debt relief order.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

2 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251O(4)(b)

False representations or omissions in connection with a duty in relation to a debt relief order.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251P(1)

Failing to deliver books, records and papers to official receiver, concealing or destroying them or making false entries in them by person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251P(2)

Person in respect of whom debt relief order is made doing anything falling within paragraphs (c) to (e) of section 251P(1) during the period of 12 months ending with the application date or doing anything falling within paragraphs (b) to (e) of section 251P(1) after that date but before the effective date.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251Q(1)

Fraudulent disposal of property by person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

2 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251R(1)

Disposal of property that is not paid for by person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251R(2)

Obtaining property in respect of which money is owed by a person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

7 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.

251S(1)

Person in respect of whom a debt relief order is made obtaining credit or engaging in business without disclosing his status or name.

1. On indictment

2. Summary

2 years or a fine, or both.

12 months or the statutory maximum, or both.”

(4)

In the application of those entries in relation to offences committed before F22 May 2022
(limit on magistrates’ court powers to impose imprisonment), the references in the fourth column to “12 months” are to be read as references to “6 months”.

Part 2Amendments to other legislation

16

(1)

Section 11(1) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46)
(undischarged bankrupts)
(as substituted in relation to England and Wales by the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40)) is amended as follows.

(2)

At the end of paragraph (a)
(before “or”) insert—

“(aa)

a moratorium period under a debt relief order applies in relation to him,”.

(3)

In paragraph (b) after “bankruptcy restrictions order” insert
or a debt relief restrictions order
.

17

In section 183(2) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18)
(insolvency of an employer who is individual), in paragraph (a) before sub-paragraph (i) insert—

“(ai)

a moratorium period under a debt relief order applies in relation to him,”.