A remedy whereby the creditor can instruct bailiffs to enter the debtor's property to seize goods as security for payment of the debt. In the context of commercial leases, it is the landlord who will instruct bailiffs to distrain on the tenanted property as security for the payment of rent.

Note that the common law right of distress was abolished on 6 April 2014. From 6 April 2014, the procedure for commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR) set out in the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, must be used for commercial property.