What Breathing Space is
The Debt Respite Scheme — commonly called Breathing Space — was introduced by the government on 4 May 2021. It is administered by the Insolvency Service on behalf of HM Treasury.
Breathing Space gives someone dealing with problem debt temporary legal protection from most creditor action, interest and charges. The aim is to give the person time to engage with a regulated debt adviser and decide on a long-term approach to their debts.
The two types
1. Standard Breathing Space
A Standard Breathing Space lasts for 60 days. It is available to anyone who:
- Is receiving debt advice from a regulated debt adviser
- Has a qualifying debt
- Is domiciled or ordinarily resident in England or Wales
- Has not had a Standard Breathing Space in the preceding 12 months
- Is not currently in a debt relief order, bankruptcy, IVA or other formal insolvency procedure
2. Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space
A Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space is available to someone receiving mental health crisis treatment. It lasts for as long as the treatment continues, plus an additional 30 days after treatment ends. There is no 12-month restriction on how often someone can enter this type of Breathing Space.
What protection it provides
Once a Breathing Space begins, for qualifying debts:
- Most creditors must pause contact about the debt
- Interest, fees and charges must be frozen
- Most enforcement action must stop
- Most county court proceedings related to the debt must be paused
How a Breathing Space is started
A person cannot apply for a Breathing Space themselves. Applications must be made by a regulated debt adviser authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, or by a qualifying local authority debt adviser.
The adviser must assess whether Breathing Space is appropriate for the person's circumstances, identify the debts that will be included, and enter the application onto the Breathing Space register maintained by the Insolvency Service.
What happens during the 60 days
During a Standard Breathing Space, the debt adviser will usually carry out a midway review at around day 25-35 to check the person is still engaging with the advice process. The person is expected to:
- Keep in contact with the debt adviser
- Continue paying ongoing liabilities such as rent, mortgage, utilities and tax
- Not take out further credit of £500 or more without disclosing that they are in a Breathing Space
If the person does not continue engaging, the Breathing Space can be ended early.
What happens at the end
At the end of the Breathing Space, the protections end. Creditors can resume contact and pursue the debts, and interest and charges can start to accrue again. By this point, the person should have worked with their adviser to decide on a longer-term approach — which might be a formal debt solution (such as a DRO or IVA), a payment plan, or further advice.
Scale of use
According to Insolvency Service statistics, 89,130 Breathing Spaces were registered in 2025 — the highest annual total since the scheme began, and a similar level to 2024.
Where to find a regulated debt adviser
UK Debt Team is an introducer and does not administer Breathing Space applications. Free regulated debt advice is available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, Citizens Advice and National Debtline. Any of these can assess whether Breathing Space is appropriate and, where so, make the application.