Debt & Money Problems
Breathing Space
Breathing Space, officially the Debt Respite Scheme, gives people in England and Wales legal protection from most creditor action while they get debt advice. Here is how it works and who can use it.
Key information
- Standard breathing space gives legal protection for up to 60 days
- During it, creditors must pause most enforcement, interest and contact about the debt
- You apply through a debt adviser, not directly — and it is free
- A separate mental health crisis breathing space lasts as long as treatment, plus 30 days
On this page
What breathing space does
Breathing Space is a scheme in England and Wales that gives you legal protections from your creditors while you deal with your debts. During a breathing space, most creditors cannot take enforcement action against you, cannot contact you to ask for payment of the covered debts, and cannot add interest or charges to those debts.
It does not write off what you owe, and you should keep paying anything you can — in particular your ongoing bills and any priority debts. It is designed to give you a protected period to get advice and put a plan in place, not to clear the debt itself.
Standard breathing space
A standard breathing space is available to anyone with problem debt and gives legal protections for up to 60 days. You cannot apply directly — you must go through a debt adviser, who will submit the application if it is the right option for you. It is free to apply.
You will not usually be eligible if you already have a debt relief order, an individual voluntary arrangement, an interim order, or are an undischarged bankrupt. You also cannot start a new standard breathing space if you have already had one in the previous 12 months.
Mental health crisis breathing space
There is a separate mental health crisis breathing space for someone who is receiving mental health crisis treatment. It offers the same protections but lasts as long as the person’s crisis treatment, plus a further 30 days — however long that treatment continues.
The 12-month restriction that applies to standard breathing space does not apply here: someone can enter a mental health crisis breathing space as many times as needed, even if they have had a breathing space in the last 12 months. An approved mental health professional must confirm the person is receiving crisis treatment.
Your rights & protection
- During a breathing space, creditors must stop most enforcement action, stop contacting you about the covered debts, and stop adding interest and charges to them.
- Applying for breathing space is free — you access it through a debt adviser, who submits the application on your behalf.
- A mental health crisis breathing space can be used as often as needed and lasts for the length of crisis treatment plus 30 days.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- GOV.UK, Options for dealing with your debts: Breathing Space (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- GOV.UK, Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) guidance for money advisers (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- StepChange, Breathing Space scheme (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.