Resources for debt advisers
Keep up to date with regular updates from Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
Shelter Legal contains information on debt relief orders, court processes to enforce a debt, guarantor agreements, and charging orders and orders for sale.
Monthly round-up of news and legal updates
The monthly-round up from the Specialist Debt Advice Service includes:
news and legal developments
debt caselaw summaries
articles and adviser guides
updates to Shelter Legal
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Read the latest debt news and legal updatesArticles and guides
Articles from experts and practitioners covering key debt advice issues, including case studies.
Breathing space
Information and resources for professionals advising on breathing space and mental health crisis moratoriums.
Breathing space and disputed debts
In this case study, Specialist Debt Advice answer a question from an adviser whose client disputes liability for a utility bill, explaining how the debt respite scheme regulations and guidance apply to this situation.
Consumer Credit Act
Terminating a hire purchase agreement
Specialist Debt Advice answers a query from an adviser dealing with a hire purchase termination, explaining how and when a debtor can limit their liability using the voluntary termination provisions in the Consumer Credit Act.
Council tax
Charging order for council tax arrears
Response to a question from an adviser about whether their client can apply to vary a charging order obtained by a local authority to prevent enforcement.
Council tax liability for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
Response to a consultancy enquiry addressing council tax liability in HMOs, including case law and information about challenging liability.
Debt relief orders
Company director disqualification
Luke Oliver explores the strict requirements for company directors who apply for a debt relief order, and the consequences for failing to follow them.
Debt relief orders and monthly payments of backdated benefits
Response to a consultancy enquiry addressing how monthly payments of backdated universal credit disability elements are treated in a DRO.
Omitting a debt from a DRO application
Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service explains when a debt must be included in a DRO, and when your client could leave a debt out of their application.
Enforcement
Challenging Penalty Charge Notices
What are your client's next steps when the bailiffs visit to enforce a Penalty Charge Notice?
Kate Cook and Syedur Rahman explore options to challenge a parking or road traffic charge when the deadline has passe
Time orders
Steve Wilcox explains why time orders have historically been underused by the courts. Steve makes the case for advisers to refamiliarise themselves with this important tool in mortgage repossession using Shelter's new resources for professionals.
Time orders duty adviser guide
This quick reference guide provides answers to common questions that might come up for advisers and solicitors giving advice on the housing possession duty scheme.
Archive of monthly round-ups
All monthly round-ups of news and legal updates were correct at the date of publication.
2024
New guidance for car finance discretionary commission complaints, a survey on universal credit deductions, a new IMA report on workloads and wellbeing, and MaPS' debt advice strategy consultation.
The FCA’s review of the Consumer Duty so far, proposed enforcement conduct standards, support for the inclusion of claimant data on the Register of Judgments, and prosecution for a fraudulent Bounce Back Loan application.
Changes to the DRO qualifying criteria, IVA statistics for 2023, the government Debt Fairness Charter and the UK Regulators Network letter on debt collection.
Guidance for insolvency practitioners, increased court fees guidance, updated court processes, and Shelter’s response to the MaPS debt advice consultation.
Upcoming changes to DRO qualifying criteria, information on mediation for small claims, and the FCA's ongoing work on domestic financial abuse.
Changes to the DRO qualifying criteria, Enforcement Conduct Board update, and a Consumer Duty update.
Bankruptcy guidance on the replacement vehicle value, and details about a ‘call for evidence’ on enforcement.
DRO guidance on motor finance discretionary commission and a resource for economic abuse survivors.
Breathing space service delivery, cryptocurrency Bill, and reports on joint mortgages and public sector debt collection.
Consultation updates, IVAs and poor practice, new published standards for the enforcement sector, and CPAG resources for advisers.
2023
Enforcement agent reforms, revised guidance for IVA providers, and a new economic abuse toolkit.
Forced pre-payment meter installations, new Household Support Fund guidance, and a consultation on Buy-Now-Pay-Later draft legislation.
Updated guidance for mortgage lenders, Shelter’s CCA consultation response, and a consultation on proposed changes to court fees.
Recording pension values in a DRO moratorium, energy suppliers benefit deductions, and an illegal money lending report.
The latest DRO news, a new quality assessor for MaPS-funded cases, and warnings about unregulated debt advice providers.
A 12-month grace period for mortgage repossessions, updated breathing space guidance, credit report guidance following a revoked DRO, and an update from the FCA.
An open letter to government, the review of enforcement agent legislation, the government’s response to the CCA consultation.
Government review of the personal insolvency framework, changes to County Court money claims processing, and mediation for small claims.
New DRO guidance for creditors, new rules for vulnerable customers with prepayment meters, HM Treasury’s response to Shelter’s ‘open letter’, and findings from MaPS ‘call for evidence’ on deficit budgets.
Updated DRO guidance for mobile phone contracts and recording of CCJs, an IMA workloads and wellbeing survey, further consultation on enforcement agent fees, and updated 'Help with Fees' scheme thresholds.
SDAS ebulletin survey, credit report guidance for terminated IVAs and linked addresses, new regulations and consultations.
DRO guidance, energy debt funds, new vulnerability guidance for water customers, and new complaints guidance on economic and domestic abuse.
2022
Includes details on energy bills resources, an increased fee for creditor bankruptcy deposits, and pensions relevant to the insolvency test.
Includes details on advising rent guarantors, changes to the advertising policy for debt services, and updates to the Civil Procedure Rules.
Includes details on cost of living increases, breathing space guidance on qualifying debts, and the effect of a charging order on homeowners.
Includes details on published consultations, changes on how to address judges, and a cost-of-living impact report on people’s mental health.
Chat to an adviser
Start a webchat to ask a specialist debt adviser about your client's case.
Policy and consultations
Shelter and other signatories wrote to HM Treasury to clarify the role of the debt advice provider in delivering mental health crisis moratoriums.
Shelter's letter to HM Treasury - download PDF
Response from HM Treasury - download PDF
Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service responded to the HM Treasury consultation on Consumer Credit Act reform.
Shelter's response to the CCA consultation
Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service responded to the MaPS consultation on proposals for the delivery of its debt advice strategy.
Dealing with a tricky debt case for a client?
Speak to Shelter's debt experts about your case. Call our helpline on 0330 058 0404 or start a webchat with one of our advisers on this page.
Our helpline and webchat service is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.