Will a Debt Relief Order stop bailiffs?

DROs have become one of the most common ways people in England and Wales deal with debts they can’t repay. 46,939 DROs were made in 2025, the highest annual total since they were introduced in 2009 (Insolvency Service), after the £90 fee was scrapped and the debt limit raised to £50,000 in 2024.

For many people facing bailiffs – especially for council tax – a DRO can bring enforcement to an end for good.

How a DRO stops bailiffs

When the Official Receiver makes your DRO, a moratorium begins. This means that creditors named in the DRO:

• can’t take any action to recover the debt, including enforcement by bailiffs
• can’t start court action or bankruptcy proceedings over those debts
• can only take action with the court’s permission, which is rarely given

If bailiffs are already involved, tell them and the creditor that your DRO has been made, and give them the details. They should stop. At the end of the 12-month DRO period, you’re usually discharged from the debts, meaning you no longer have to pay them.

Which bailiff debts can a DRO include?

Council parking penalties are civil debts and can usually be included, but your adviser will confirm this for your case. If bailiffs are chasing you for a magistrates’ court fine, a DRO won’t stop them – read about priority debts.

Do I qualify? The 2026 DRO rules

You can usually get a DRO in England and Wales if:

• your qualifying debts total £50,000 or less
• you have £75 a month or less left after normal household costs
• your assets are worth £2,000 or less in total (not counting essential household items)
• any vehicle you own is worth less than £4,000
• you’ve lived, had a home or worked in England or Wales in the last 3 years
• you haven’t applied for a DRO in the last 6 years
• you’re not in an IVA, bankruptcy or another DRO

Homeowners usually don’t qualify, because their share of the property is normally worth more than £2,000. Read our full DRO guide for details.

What about bailiffs while I’m applying?

A DRO only protects you once it’s made. Getting the paperwork together and the application decided usually takes a few weeks. If bailiffs are already involved, your adviser can help in the meantime by:

• applying for Breathing Space, which stops most bailiff action for 60 days – read can Breathing Space stop bailiffs?
• asking for a 28-day extension to the notice period, if you’ve recently had a Notice of Enforcement
• contacting the creditor to explain a DRO application is under way

The downsides to consider

A DRO is a formal insolvency procedure, so it’s important to understand the consequences:

• it appears on your credit file for six years
• it’s listed on the public Individual Insolvency Register during the DRO and for three months after
• you must not borrow £500 or more without telling the lender during the DRO
• you must tell the Official Receiver if your income or assets increase, and the DRO can be revoked
• you can only apply once every six years

How to apply

You can’t apply on your own. A DRO must be made through an approved intermediary – a qualified debt adviser authorised to help with DRO applications. They’ll check your eligibility, help you complete the application and submit it to the Official Receiver. There’s no fee.

DRO or IVA?

If your spare income is more than £75 a month, your debts are over £50,000, or you own your home, you’re unlikely to qualify for a DRO. An IVA may then be one of the options to consider. Read can an IVA stop bailiffs? and debt solutions compared.

More about DROs

• How to apply for a DRO, what debts can be included and DRO vs bankruptcy

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for a DRO to stop bailiffs?

Protection starts once the DRO is made, which is usually within a few weeks of the application being submitted. Breathing Space can protect you while you wait.

Can council tax bailiffs come after a DRO?

Not for the council tax arrears included in your DRO. Your current year’s council tax isn’t included, so keep paying it to avoid new arrears.

Will a DRO remove bailiff fees?

Bailiff fees that have already been lawfully added form part of the debt, so they’re included in the DRO along with the debt itself.

Do I have to pay for a DRO?

No. The application fee was abolished in April 2024, and approved intermediaries don’t charge for helping you apply.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Debt Relief Orders
• GOV.UK, How to get a debt relief order (DRO)
• Insolvency Service, Individual insolvency statistics, December 2025
• Insolvency Act 1986, Part 7A (Debt Relief Orders)