What is the IVA register?

When you take out an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), certain personal information about you will be recorded on a public register called the Individual Insolvency Register.

Here we explain what information is recorded, how long it stays on the register, why it’s publicly available and when it’s possible to withhold your address.

Is the IVA register the same as the Individual Insolvency Register?

The Individual Insolvency Register is sometimes informally referred to as the IVA register. As well as including details of IVAs, it also contains information about bankruptcies and debt relief orders.

What personal details are recorded on the IVA register?

If you’re granted an IVA, these details will usually be published on the IVA register:

your name
your last known address
your date of birth
your gender
the date the IVA was approved

Your occupation and title might also be included.

Details about your insolvency practitioner are also recorded.

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Who can access this information on the IVA register?

The register is public, meaning anyone can access it. Searching the register can be done online for free using your name or in person at a local branch of the official receiver’s office.

It’s usually searched by lenders, landlords and employers to see if you’ve had trouble repaying loans.

It can also be searched by credit reference agencies to check your borrowing history and update your credit report.

Why is the IVA register public?

It’s a legal requirement to maintain a transparent record of people who are insolvent.

These details are made public to avoid cases of mistaken identity, such as having the same name as someone else or the same date of birth.

However, the details held on the register aren’t indexed by internet search engines – you need to search the register directly for someone’s file. This means if you have an IVA, people won’t stumble on this information accidentally during a Google search.

Can my address be withheld from the IVA register?

For domestic abuse survivors and others at risk of violence, it’s possible to ask for your address to be withheld from the register by applying to the court for a person at risk of violence (PARV) order at a cost of £308. In some cases, the fee may be waived if applicants meet certain income-related criteria. Speak to your insolvency practitioner if you believe publishing your address could put you in danger.