http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/section/266Insolvency Act 1986An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to company insolvency and winding up (including the winding up of companies that are not insolvent, and of unregistered companies); enactments relating to the insolvency and bankruptcy of individuals; and other enactments bearing on those two subject matters, including the functions and qualification of insolvency practitioners, the public administration of insolvency, the penalisation and redress of malpractice and wrongdoing, and the avoidance of certain transactions at an undervalue1986-07-25texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-02-02Expert Participation2026-02-02 Insolvency Act 1986ActThe Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017Sch. 3 para. 1reg. 1(1)Insolvency Act 1986s. 41HB(2)Smart Meters Act 2018s. 1(3)(b)s. 14(2)Insolvency Act 1986ActThe Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022Rheoliadau Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 (Darpariaethau Arbed a Darpariaethau Trosiannol) 2022RegulationsInsolvency Act 1986Sch. 6 para. 13(2)(za)Employment Rights Act 2025Sch. 2 para. 1s. 159(3) Part IXChapter I2661Where a bankruptcy petition relating to an individual is presented by a person who is entitled to present a petition under two or more paragraphs of section 264(1), the petition is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as a petition under such one of those paragraphs as may be specified in the petition.2A bankruptcy petition shall not be withdrawn without the leave of the court.3The court has a general power, if it appears to it appropriate to do so on the grounds that there has been a contravention of the rules or for any other reason, to dismiss a bankruptcy petition or to stay proceedings on such a petition; and, where it stays proceedings on a petition, it may do so on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.4Without prejudice to subsection (3), where a petition under section 264(1)(a) ... or (c) in respect of an individual is pending at a time when a criminal bankruptcy order is made against him, or is presented after such an order has been so made, the court may on the application of the Official Petitioner dismiss the petition if it appears to it appropriate to do so.S. 266 modified (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 11(2)(3), Sch. 7 para. 4Pt. IX (ss. 264-371) excluded by Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (c. 32, SIF 39:1), s. 15(1)(7) Pt. IX excluded by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), ss. 84, 123, Sch. 8 para. 16Pt. IX (ss. 264-371) amended by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987 (c.41, SIF 39:1), ss. 30(6), 34(1), 47(4)(a)Pt. IX (except ss. 269, 270, 287, 297) applied (with modifications) (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 8(7)-(9), Sch. 4 Pt. II, Sch. 7 (as amended (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 10)Pt. IX (except ss. 273, 274, 287, 297) applied (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 10(4)(5)(a)Pt. IX (ss. 264-371) modified (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 37, ss. 32(1), 69(2), Sch. 2 para. 5 (with s. 66(2))Pt. IX modified (31.3.1996) by 1995 c. 20, s. 110(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1); S.I. 1996/517, art. 3(2) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 4-6, Sch. 2)Pt. IX modified (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 43, ss. 44, 50(2), Sch. 2 para. 2(1)Pt. IX modified (1.9.2001 subject to art. 3 of the commencing S.I.) by 2001 c. 17, s. 1(3), Sch. 6 para. 9(1) (with s. 78); S.I. 2001/2161, arts. 2, 3 (as amended by S.I. 2001/2304, art. 2)Pt. IX modified (24.3.2003) by 2002 c. 29, ss. 417, 458(1)(3); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch. (subject to arts. 3-13 (as amended by S.I. 2003/531, arts. 3, 4))Pt. IX (ss. 264-371) restricted (6.4.1996 for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations) by 1995 c. 26, ss. 91(3), 180(1) (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. VSecond Group of Parts (Pts. 8-11) modified (31.12.1996) by 1991 c. 57, Sch. 10 (as substituted by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 183 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/2909, art. 3)Second Group of Parts (Pts. 8-11) modified (11.11.1999 for specified purposes and 6.4.2002 otherwise) by 1999 c. 30, s. 12(1); S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(b)Pt. IX (except ss. 273, 274, 287) applied (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 11(1)(2)(a), Sch. 7 (as amended (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 10 and S.I. 1994/2421, Sch. 7 para. 21 (1.1.2015) by The Banks and Building Societies (Depositor Preference and Priorities) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3486), arts. 1(2), 15 (with art. 3))Pt. 9 Ch. 1 heading substituted (6.4.2016) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 19 para. 5; S.I. 2016/191, art. 2 (with art. 3)Word in s. 266(4) omitted (6.4.2016) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 19 para. 8; S.I. 2016/191, art. 2 (with art. 3)S. 266 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1999, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (as amended (31.5.2002) by S.I. 2002/1309, art. 3(2)(4) and as amended (31.12.2020) by The Insolvency (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/146), reg. 1(3), Sch. para. 108(2)(c) (with regs. 4, 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))