60 days of legal protection from your creditors
Breathing Space freezes interest, stops enforcement, and pauses creditor contact — giving you the time you need to find a proper debt solution.
- 60 days
- Frozen
- No contact
- Gov backed
What Breathing Space protects you from
Creditors must stop chasing you
No phone calls, no letters demanding payment, no doorstep visits. Creditors are legally required to pause all recovery action for 60 days.
Interest and charges frozen
No new interest, penalty fees, or default charges can be added to your qualifying debts during the protection period.
Enforcement action halted
Bailiff visits, court proceedings, and any other enforcement action must stop immediately once Breathing Space is registered.
Government backed
Breathing Space is an official government scheme, formally called the Debt Respite Scheme. It carries the full force of law behind it.
Most debts covered
Credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, utility arrears, council tax arrears and most other unsecured debts qualify for protection.
No application fee
There is no charge to apply for Breathing Space. Your partner adviser handles the entire process on your behalf.
How Breathing Space works
Apply through us
Contact us for advice. A qualified debt adviser will review your situation and submit a Breathing Space application to the Insolvency Service on your behalf.
Protection starts
Once registered, all qualifying creditors are notified and must immediately comply. Interest is frozen, enforcement halts, and creditor contact is restricted.
Midpoint review
Your partner adviser checks in to review your progress and begin exploring longer-term debt solutions such as an IVA or Debt Management Plan to put in place before the period ends.
Solution in place
By the time Breathing Space ends, your adviser will have helped you move into a proper debt solution. The transition is seamless — your protection continues without a gap.
Is this right for you?
You’re likely a fit if…
- You have a debt problem you are struggling to manage
- You are getting debt advice from a qualified adviser at an authorised partner
- You have not had Breathing Space in the last 12 months
- You are not currently in an existing insolvency procedure
It may not be right if…
- You have had Breathing Space in the past 12 months
- You are already in an IVA or bankruptcy
- Your debts are only secured debts (e.g. mortgage)
Questions, answered honestly
What debts are covered?
Most unsecured debts are covered by Breathing Space, including credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, utility arrears, and council tax arrears. Secured debts like mortgages are not included, but the majority of everyday debts that people struggle with are eligible for protection.
What happens after 60 days?
Your partner adviser will have helped you find a longer-term solution, such as an IVA or DMP, before Breathing Space ends. The 60 days are designed as a window to get proper advice and put a plan in place — not as a solution in themselves. If you have a plan ready, the transition is seamless.
Can creditors still contact me?
They can send statements, but cannot take enforcement action, add interest, or apply charges during the 60-day period. They are also not allowed to chase you for payment, send bailiffs, or start court proceedings. If a creditor breaches these rules, they can be challenged.
Is there a mental health Breathing Space?
Yes. If you are receiving mental health crisis treatment, you can access Breathing Space for the duration of your treatment plus 30 days. This version of the scheme provides the same protections but lasts longer and can be applied for by an Approved Mental Health Professional on your behalf.
Does Breathing Space affect my credit file?
It may be noted on your credit file, but the protection it provides often outweighs any short-term credit impact. Breathing Space is temporary, and many people who access it go on to put a proper debt solution in place that helps rebuild their financial health over time.
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