The Debt Respite Scheme, commonly called Breathing Space, gives people in problem debt legal protection from creditor action -- including a freeze on most interest and charges and a pause on enforcement -- while they get debt advice and work out a longer-term solution. This guide explains the two versions of the scheme, who qualifies, what protection it gives, and what happens once it ends in 2026/27.
What Breathing Space Is
Breathing Space is a legal protection, not a debt solution in itself -- it does not write off debts. Instead, it pauses most creditor action and freezes additional interest and fees for a set period, giving you time and space to get proper debt advice from a qualified debt adviser and decide on the best way forward, such as a debt management plan, Debt Relief Order, or Individual Voluntary Arrangement.
You must be assessed and referred into the scheme by a registered debt adviser -- you cannot apply directly to your creditors or to a government body yourself.
Standard vs Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space
Feature
Standard Breathing Space
Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space
Who qualifies
Anyone with problem debt, assessed by a debt adviser
People receiving mental health crisis treatment
Duration
60 days
Length of crisis treatment plus 30 days
Who can apply again
Limited -- generally once every 12 months
No fixed limit tied to treatment episodes
Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space requires confirmation from an Approved Mental Health Professional that the person is receiving crisis treatment, and it can be requested by that professional as well as by a debt adviser.
What Protection It Gives
During Breathing Space, most creditors covered by the scheme must stop:
Charging additional interest, fees or charges on the debts included.
Contacting you to demand payment.
Starting or continuing most enforcement action, including bailiff visits, county court judgments, and further legal recovery steps.
Certain debts -- such as ongoing liabilities like current tax, some fines, and secured debts like your mortgage -- are outside or only partially covered, so you still need to keep paying essential ongoing bills like rent, mortgage payments and utility bills during Breathing Space, as these are not protected in the same way.
What Happens When It Ends
Breathing Space is a pause, not a resolution. When it ends, normal interest, charges and enforcement can resume unless you have moved into a longer-term debt solution during the protected period, such as a Debt Management Plan, Debt Relief Order, Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or an agreed repayment plan with creditors.
Working closely with your debt adviser throughout the period is important, so that a plan is in place before protection ends rather than debts simply reverting to their previous state with nothing resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does standard Breathing Space last?
Standard Breathing Space lasts 60 days. During this time most interest, fees and enforcement action on included debts are paused, giving you time to get full debt advice and agree a longer-term plan before protection ends.
How do I apply for Breathing Space?
You cannot apply directly -- you must be assessed by a registered, FCA-authorised debt adviser (or, for the mental health crisis version, potentially referred via an Approved Mental Health Professional), who determines whether you meet the eligibility criteria and then registers you for the scheme on your behalf.
What debts are covered by Breathing Space?
Most personal debts, such as credit cards, loans, overdrafts, rent arrears, and some utility arrears, are typically covered. Certain debts, including some taxes, benefit overpayments, court fines and confiscation orders, are excluded or only partly covered, so check with your debt adviser exactly which of your debts are protected.
Show 7 more questionsShow fewer questions
Do I still have to pay my mortgage or rent during Breathing Space?
Yes -- ongoing essential household bills, including your current mortgage or rent payments, council tax, and utility bills, generally must still be paid during the Breathing Space period. Only past arrears on certain debts, and additional interest and enforcement, are paused, not your ongoing liability to keep up with current bills.
Can I get Breathing Space more than once?
For standard Breathing Space, you can generally only use the scheme once in any 12-month period. Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space is not subject to the same 12-month limit and is instead tied to episodes of crisis treatment, so it can potentially be used again if you experience another qualifying crisis.
Does Breathing Space stop bailiffs?
Yes, in most cases -- one of the key protections of Breathing Space is pausing enforcement action, including bailiff (enforcement agent) visits relating to the debts included in the scheme, for the duration of the protection period.
Does Breathing Space affect my credit file?
Being in Breathing Space itself is not intended to directly damage your credit score in the way a missed payment would, but underlying issues such as existing arrears or a subsequent debt solution (like a DMP or DRO) can still affect your credit file according to their own separate rules.
What is Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space?
It is a version of the scheme for people receiving treatment for a mental health crisis, offering the same core protections as standard Breathing Space but lasting for the length of the crisis treatment plus 30 days afterwards, recognising that a fixed 60-day limit may not suit someone in acute crisis.
Will my creditors be told I am in Breathing Space?
Yes, your debt adviser registers your Breathing Space on the official government-run register, which creditors covered by the scheme can check, and they are required to update their records and stop pursuing included debts for the duration of the protection.
Does Breathing Space cost anything?
No -- Breathing Space itself is free. Debt advice services that assess and register you for the scheme, including free charities and not-for-profit advisers, do not charge you for arranging it, so there is no fee to enter either version of the scheme.
Disclaimer: This guide reflects the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) as it applies in 2026/27. Always seek advice from a qualified, regulated debt adviser before applying. This guide is for general information only and is not professional advice. Consult a qualified adviser and refer to gov.uk for current official guidance before relying on any treatment.
