This guide takes a detailed look at the Individual Insolvency Register (IIR), including which of your personal details are shown on the register, who can access the register, and what to do if having your details on a public register could put you at risk of violence.
The IVA and insolvency register is a term commonly used to describe the Individual Insolvency Register (IIR), which is a public database that contains records of individual insolvencies – including Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs), and bankruptcies.
Being told your details are visible on a public register can cause panic and it’s normal to worry about who may find out you’re in debt, but knowing how it works can put your mind at ease. In reality, very few people have a need to access the register.
How much debt do you have?
What is the IVA and Insolvency Register UK?
The IVA register – known officially as the Individual Insolvency Register (IIR) – is an online database that displays the personal details of individuals who have been officially declared ‘insolvent’, which is the legal term used to describe someone unable to pay their debts.
It is updated and maintained by the Insolvency Service, which is the government body responsible for investigating liquidations, administrations, insolvencies, and bankruptcies. However, because information is provided by third parties, it doesn’t accept responsibility for any information that might be wrong or inaccurate.
If you have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), Debt Relief Order (DRO), or bankruptcy, your details will be added to the IIR until three months after your arrangement ends – whether it’s been completed, terminated, or revoked. It also shows individuals at different stages of these proceedings (e.g. if you’re subject to interim bankruptcy restrictions while bankruptcy proceedings are in place).
The IIR only contains court records registered in England and Wales. In Scotland, The Accountant in Bankruptcy acts as Scotland’s Insolvency Service and has a similar database. In Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy offers similar databases that are available for public inspection.
What does the Individual Insolvency Register show?
The IIR contains details about various types of insolvency, including:
- Bankruptcies that are current or have ended in the last three months
- Debt Relief Orders (DROs) that are current or have ended in the last three months
- Current Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), including those that have ended in the last three months
- Current Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders or Undertakings (BROs/BRUs) and Interim Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders (IBROs)
- Current Debt Relief Restrictions Orders or Undertakings (DRROs/DRRUs) and Interim Debt Relief Restrictions Orders (IDRROs)
What is the IVA and Insolvency Register used for?
Almost everyone accessing the IIR is doing so for business reasons. For example, lenders and credit reference agencies use it to check a person’s financial background and assess whether or not an applicant is considered ‘creditworthy’.
In other cases, employers may use the IIR to ensure a prospective candidate’s financial background is suitable for a job role. This is most commonly done by businesses and industries that have strict rules around who they can employ, such as financial institutions, legal services, and companies that might handle the finances of others.
Lastly, landlords and rental agencies may check the IIR to help them decide whether a potential tenant has any financial issues that might impact their ability to pay their rent on time.
Do individuals access the IVA Register UK?
The IIR is largely used for business purposes and it’s rare that individuals will have a need to access the register. However, it is a public database so anyone could search for someone’s details on there if they want to.
In England and Wales, you only need a person’s surname to search the database and records can be narrowed by given names for specific results. If you want to search for a business, all you need is the company’s trading name.
Remember, despite its public access, most people aren’t aware of the IIR and the public nature of the records it holds, so it’s not commonly visited or accessed by individuals.
“No fuss, just simple, honest advice. Communication is good and they make the process as easy as they can.”
Which of your details are shown on the Insolvency Register?
If you’re in an insolvency solution and your details are added to the IIR, it will show a number of details specific to you, including:
- The type of insolvency proceeding you are subject to (e.g. IVA or DRO)
- Your full name and your title
- Your gender
- Your occupation
- Your date of birth
- The last known address registered to you
- The start and end date of your insolvency solution
- The Insolvency Practitioner or Official Receiver responsible for your case
- The contact details for the Insolvency Practitioner or Official Receiver handling your case
In some cases, additional information that’s relevant to your insolvency case may also be included. For example, if the person dealing with your case has reason to believe you’ve been dishonest or have purposely withheld information, details of the extra restrictions applied could also be listed.
Though great care is taken to ensure the information on the IIR is correct and removed at the right time, occasionally errors occur. If you identify information that is incorrect or should have been removed, you must contact the Insolvency Service and ask them to update their records as soon as possible.
What happens if having your details listed on the public record might put you in danger?
If you are subject to insolvency proceedings and think you might be at risk if your personal details are published online, you can apply to have your entry withheld from the register.
To do this, you need to apply for a Persons at Risk of Violence (PARV) order. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a specific person you think might pose a threat to you or if you think a threat might come from the wider public, if you or a member of your family could be at risk of violence, you can apply.
If you want to know if your PARV application has been successful before voluntary insolvency proceedings commence, you can apply before a bankruptcy, an IVA, or a DRO is approved. Equally, if proceedings have been approved, you can still apply afterwards. If the PARV application is approved, your address will be removed from the register.
Slightly different forms and processes are used by different courts so if you’d like to proceed with a PARV application at any stage, you should contact your local Official Receiver’s office or court. In many cases, the Insolvency Practitioner you’re working with will be able to offer you advice or even begin the process on your behalf.
Debt help tailored to you
From writing off a large portion of your debt, to readjusting your budget, we’ll find a solution that suits you.
A Summary: The IVA and Insolvency Register
In England and Wales, the IVA and Insolvency Register is better known as the Individual Insolvency Register or IIR for short. It holds details of everyone subject to insolvency proceedings, including bankruptcies, IVAs, and DROs.
Although the IIR is a publicly available register, it’s mostly businesses that use it to check your financial background and to assess your creditworthiness.
If you believe that having your name appear on a public record might put you or a member of your family in danger, you must seek legal or financial advice and apply to your local court for a PARV order. The court will decide if the order should be granted and will remove your last known address details from the record if it is granted.
