Breathing Space
Check Breathing Space Eligibility
Breathing Space
Protection from creditors while you get advice.
Breathing Space is a government scheme that gives you legal protection from creditor action for 60 days, giving you time to seek proper debt advice without the pressure of calls, letters, or enforcement.
- 60 days of legal protection from creditors
- Interest, fees, and charges frozen
- Creditors cannot contact you or take enforcement action
- Applied for on your behalf by a qualified adviser
Breathing Space is a temporary measure and does not write off debt. Your individual circumstances will be assessed before any application is made.
Check your eligibility
Answer a few short questions and an adviser will be in touch.
What Breathing Space provides
During the 60-day protection period, the following apply automatically once your application is registered.
Creditor contact stopped
Creditors cannot contact you directly to chase payment, issue demands, or apply pressure during the protection period.
Interest and charges frozen
All interest, fees, and penalties on qualifying debts are frozen for the full 60 days, preventing your debt from growing while you take advice.
Enforcement action paused
Creditors cannot start or continue most enforcement actions — including court proceedings and bailiff visits — for the duration of your Breathing Space.
Time to consider your options
The protection period gives you the space to work with a debt adviser and understand which long-term solution is right for your circumstances — without pressure.
Who can apply?
- You live in England or Wales
- You have qualifying unsecured debts
- You are not currently in a formal insolvency procedure
- You have not had a Standard Breathing Space in the last 12 months
- You are engaging with a debt adviser
- Your debts are not solely tax or benefit overpayment debts
Mental Health Breathing Space
If you are receiving mental health crisis treatment, a longer form of Breathing Space is available. Mental Health Breathing Space lasts for the full duration of your treatment plus 30 days — with no restriction on how recently you last used it. Your debt adviser or mental health care coordinator can apply on your behalf.
How it works
Complete the form
Tell us a little about your situation. One of our advisers will review your details and contact you.
Eligibility assessed
Your adviser will confirm whether Breathing Space is appropriate for your circumstances and explain what happens next.
Application submitted
Your adviser registers the Breathing Space on your behalf with the Insolvency Service. Protection starts immediately on registration.
Explore longer-term options
During the 60 days, your adviser will work with you to identify the right long-term debt solution for your situation.