Guides to bailiffs and debt solutions
In-depth, regularly updated guides to bailiff rules, your rights, Breathing Space, Debt Relief Orders, IVAs and the other ways to deal with debt in England and Wales.
Start with our complete guide to stopping bailiffs, or pick the topic you need. Every guide is written from legislation and official guidance and shows when it was last checked.
How to stop bailiffs: the complete guide for 2026
Every legal way to stop bailiff action, what each one costs and how quickly it works.
Your rights when bailiffs visit: the rules bailiffs must follow
Notice periods, visiting hours, entry, what bailiffs can take and what they can charge.
Breathing Space: how the 60-day debt protection scheme works
The free 60-day legal protection that pauses bailiffs and freezes interest while you get advice.
Debt Relief Orders (DROs): the complete 2026 guide
The free debt solution for people with low income and few assets, including the 2026 eligibility rules.
Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs): how they work, costs and risks
How IVAs work, what they cost, how they stop bailiffs, and the risks to weigh up first.
Debt solutions compared: DRO vs IVA vs bankruptcy vs debt management plan
DROs, IVAs, bankruptcy, debt management plans and more, side by side.
Priority debts: which debts to deal with first
Why council tax, fines, rent and energy come first, and how to deal with them.
Bailiffs and debt in Scotland and Northern Ireland
How enforcement and debt solutions differ outside England and Wales.