The monthly round-up of news, guidance, legislation, and case law from Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
News and legal updates
This month's legal round up includes new DRO guidance, data on breathing space compliance reminders, FOS resources and more.
DRO Special Bulletin November 2025 published
The Insolvency Service DRO team has published its Special Bulletin November 2025, which should have been sent to all Competent Authorities. The DRO team has produced guidance on the DRO submission process and its expectations:
DRO Submission Process and Expectations
Following recent enquiries, we would like to clarify the submission process, requirements, and expectations for Debt Relief Order (DRO) applications.
A DRO is a formal insolvency process, the Insolvency Service is obliged to act within the constraints of the insolvency legislation. The official receiver must determine a DRO application using the information included in the application when it is submitted.
This means you, or your client, cannot request that an application be amended or cancelled once it has been submitted. We will not deal with requests to amend or update an application after it has been submitted. Any debts omitted from the application will not be covered by the DRO, and your client will remain liable for them.
Please ensure your client understands that it is their responsibility to ensure the application is complete and correct at the point of submission and that once submitted they can’t change their mind, and no additions can be made.
You should only contact the DRO team after the application has been submitted if you believe your client's circumstances have changed and they no longer meet the DRO eligibility criteria. If you do become aware of information affecting eligibility, please email dro.preorder@insolvency.gov.uk immediately.
We aim to determine all applications as submitted as quickly as possible.
Pre-Order Inbox Guidance
The pre-order inbox should be used for:
pre-submission queries
to provide additional information to assist with the determination of an application
to provide urgent updates if you believe your client no longer meets the DRO eligibility criteria
From the 1st December we will no longer accept any requests to add additional debts, cancel or hold cases post submission.
The SDAS team is considering this guidance. In the meantime, approved intermediaries will need to contact their DRO Competent Authority for guidance on the process of submitting DRO applications.
Breathing Space compliance reminders data published
The Insolvency Service has published data on the number of Breathing Space compliance reminders sent to creditors by the Insolvency Service between May 2021 and September 2025.
Breathing Space compliance reminders
Vulnerable situations guide published
The Money Advice Trust has published the second edition of its ‘Help! Support Needs Starter Guide’. This resource brings together practical support needs for disabled and vulnerable consumers across essential services.
Financial Ombudsman Service resources
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has several useful resources that advisers can refer to.
Business Support Hub: The Business Support Hub provides advice and guidance to businesses and consumer organisations about FOS processes and what it looks at when considering a case. FOS can’t talk about individual cases, nor can they advise on the likely outcome.
Adviser page: FOS has a dedicated web page written specifically for professional consumer advisers and charities. It includes information about who can bring a complaint to FOS, how to prepare a complaint and responding to what a FOS decision.
Newsletter: Ombudsman News provides information on current and emerging trends and can help advisers keep up to date on what’s happening within FOS.
Spotlight
This month's article from Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
Council tax liability appeals to the Valuation Tribunal
A local authority decision about council tax liability can be appealed to the Valuation Tribunal England (VTE). Our new Shelter Legal page explains the process of making the initial complaint to the local authority, including time limits to appeal to the VTE, and how the VTE deals with the appeal.
Read about Council tax liability appeals to the Valuation Tribunal on Shelter Legal.