A new Debt Respite Scheme, designed to give a debtor with problem debt the right to legal protection from their creditors, is now available.

The new scheme consists of two new two types of ‘breathing space’:

• A standard breathing space – Available to anyone with problem debt, which offers legal protection from creditor action for up to 60 days, including pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors and freezing most interest and charges on debts.
• Mental health crisis breathing space – Only available to someone who is receiving mental health crisis treatment. It will last as long as the person’s mental health crisis treatment, plus 30 days and offers some stronger protections.

Debtors can only access a standard breathing space by seeking debt advice from a qualified debt adviser.

Although all applications must be considered, some advisers might decide a breathing space is not appropriate for a debtor in certain circumstances.

To help businesses understand the impact that this change may have on them and their debtors or creditors, it is highly recommended that they read the Government’s latest, detailed guidance by clicking here.

Link: Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) guidance for creditors