A Debt Respite Scheme notification can restrict interest, fees, contact and enforcement concerning protected arrears. Standard and mental-health-crisis breathing spaces have different duration rules.
Identify the scope
- Match the notification to the tenant and debt. Record the start date and the type of breathing space.
- Check whether joint liability or related debts are affected and ask the appointed debt adviser through the proper route if details are unclear.
- Keep the notification accessible to everyone managing the account so automated reminders do not continue unchecked.
Pause the affected activity
- Stop steps prohibited by the scheme, including relevant interest, fees, collection contact and enforcement.
- Review any possession notice, claim or enforcement already in progress with a qualified adviser.
- Continue necessary repairs and legitimate management communication, taking care not to disguise debt collection as another purpose.
Manage current rent and the end
- Keep ongoing rent separate from protected historic arrears and check the scheme's rules on permitted contact.
- Record receipts accurately without treating the breathing space as a debt write-off.
- Verify an end or cancellation through the official process before restarting affected recovery, and recheck the appropriate legal route.
Example: an automated reminder is still queued
A fictional agent's system sends weekly arrears demands. On receiving a valid breathing-space notification, identify and stop the affected reminders and confirm the instruction was implemented. Merely noting the notification in a separate file does not prevent prohibited contact.
What to do
- Verify and record the notification, protected debt and start date.
- Tell the agent or adviser to stop affected recovery steps.
- Check the permitted treatment of ongoing rent and the eventual end notification.
Evidence to keep
- Official notification and debt details.
- Instructions to agents, ledger treatment and any permitted correspondence.
Sources and guidance
- Debt Respite Scheme: guidance for creditorsInsolvency Service · checked 20 October 2026