Debt options guide
Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) Explained
What Breathing Space is, how long it lasts, what it stops, and how to apply — the UK government's Debt Respite Scheme for England and Wales, explained in plain English.
By Editorial team · England and Wales · Updated 10 August 2026
Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) Explained
We're a directory, not a debt adviser. This page explains options in plain English. It is not financial or legal advice. If you want free, regulated debt advice, contact StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice. For a formal insolvency solution, speak to an authorised insolvency practitioner or a debt-law solicitor.
Breathing Space, also called the Debt Respite Scheme, is a temporary legal protection for eligible people in England and Wales. It can pause certain enforcement, contact, interest and charges on qualifying debts; it does not write those debts off. Source
Jurisdiction: Breathing Space in this form applies in England and Wales. Scottish and Northern Irish debt protections are governed separately.
At a glance
| Point | What the official guidance says |
|---|---|
| Standard period | Standard Breathing Space lasts up to 60 days. Authority |
| Crisis period | A mental health crisis moratorium lasts for the period of mental-health-crisis treatment plus 30 days. Authority |
| Repayments | Debt repayments still have to be made during Breathing Space. Authority |
| Protection | It stops enforcement action, contact about included debts and additional interest, fees and charges. Authority |
| Application route | A debt adviser submits the application. Authority |
| Repeat use | A standard Breathing Space cannot normally be used again within 12 months. Authority |
| Cost | It is free to apply, although the government notes some debt advisers may charge for their service. Authority |
| Exclusions | It cannot be used while a person has an active DRO, IVA, interim order or undischarged bankruptcy. Authority |
The table is a summary of published rules, not a personal assessment. Figures and conditions can change, so use the linked authority and a regulated adviser for the current position.
Two types of protection
The standard and mental-health-crisis routes have different durations. Both are time-limited protections rather than a way of cancelling debt, which is why it is important not to describe them as a write-off. Source
The published rules need to be read together rather than as a single deciding factor. Source
What the pause covers
For included debts, the scheme can stop creditor contact, enforcement and additional interest or charges. The debt itself remains, and the government states that repayments continue during the period. Source
The published rules need to be read together rather than as a single deciding factor. Source
Who applies
The application has to go through a debt adviser. A reader cannot create protection alone by telling a creditor that they want Breathing Space. Source
The published rules need to be read together rather than as a single deciding factor. Source
When it is unavailable
The government lists active DROs, IVAs, interim orders and undischarged bankruptcy among the restrictions. Previous use also matters for the standard route, subject to the mental-health-crisis exception. Source
The published rules need to be read together rather than as a single deciding factor. Source
A route into wider advice
The temporary space can give an adviser time to discuss the full financial picture. It is not a recommendation for a particular solution and it is not Scotland’s debt moratorium or a Northern Ireland scheme. Source
The published rules need to be read together rather than as a single deciding factor. Source
Using this information
This guide explains published rules and terms, but it cannot establish how those rules apply to a particular person, household or creditor. A regulated adviser reviews the full facts, including documents, income, assets, debts and where the person lives in the UK. Source
The figures in the table are useful signposts, not a calculator or an approval decision. A small change in the facts can matter, and formal processes have duties that are not visible from a headline threshold alone. Source
Free debt-advice charities can explain the available routes without promoting a commercial firm. An authorised insolvency practitioner or debt-law solicitor can explain the legal process for a formal solution where that is relevant. Source
This page was reviewed on 10 August 2026. The linked authority is the place to check the current wording, because legislation, fees, forms and administrative guidance can change. Source
Reading rules alongside the facts
A rule can look straightforward while its application depends on evidence and timing. Account statements, valuations, creditor balances, household income, benefits, property interests and previous formal arrangements may all affect the information considered in a case. This is why the guide uses neutral language rather than treating a checklist, table or public record as a conclusion about an individual. The authority link and a regulated professional provide the route to current, case-specific clarification.
Related information
- Debt advice hub
- IVA vs Breathing Space
- DRO eligibility
- Mental health and debt
- Bailiffs and enforcement
Talk to a regulated professional. The right route out of debt depends on your specific circumstances — income, assets, debts, dependents and where you live in the UK. A regulated insolvency practitioner or a debt-advice charity can review your position and set out the options that apply to you. Find a regulated practitioner near you or contact a free debt-advice charity listed above.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Breathing Space last?
The standard Breathing Space moratorium lasts up to 60 days, according to gov.uk. Source
What's different about the mental health crisis moratorium?
If you're getting mental health crisis treatment, protection lasts for the length of your treatment plus another 30 days. Source
Do I still have to pay my debts during Breathing Space?
Yes. Gov.uk confirms you'll still need to make your debt repayments during Breathing Space — it pauses enforcement and extra charges, not the debt itself. Source
Can I get Breathing Space if I already have a DRO or IVA?
No. You can't apply for Breathing Space if you have a DRO, an IVA, an interim order, or are an undischarged bankrupt at the time of applying. Source
Does Breathing Space cost anything?
It's free to apply, though gov.uk notes some debt advisers may charge a fee for their service. Source
Can I apply for Breathing Space myself?
No — you need to talk to a debt adviser, who will submit the application on your behalf if it's the right option. Source
This page is published by The Insolvency Directory for general information about UK personal insolvency and debt options. It is not financial, legal, tax or debt advice, and reading it does not create a client relationship. The information is a summary — the rules change and depend on your circumstances. For advice specific to you, contact a regulated debt-advice charity or an authorised insolvency practitioner. Last reviewed 2026-08-10.