[Dave Willis]

A windowcleaner has stopped cleaning in my area and declared himself bankrupt - that's a new one on me 

[darren clarke]

he might of stopped working as the gear might of been on finance and taken back

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

You can declare yourself bankrupt for personal debt as well as business debt. Maybe he ran up too much in his private life.

[Clive McDonald]

This will probably be a tax bill, possibly back dated seven years (multiplied) after an enquiry.

[G Griffin]

Any more guesses? 

[kate1]

I wouldnt speculate, could be any reasons - being a window cleaner probably has nothing to do with it at all, could be a variety of reasons.

You can go bankrupt whatever industry your in.

Its just the climate.

[LWC]

Its a last resort, times must of been hard.

[the bfg]

what ever the reason is the poor guy has and must still be suffering and going through it.

[Londoner]

Not necessarily, I know several taxi drivers who have gone down this route just to free themselves from debts. One got £22K in credit card debt written off and was bragging about it next day.

There are companies who advertise this as a service.

[Dave Willis]

He was trad and working from an estate. I understand he had a lot of debts but to stop working seems madness to me. I must have missed something. Maybe I'll try it one day.

[Paul Coleman]

A windowcleaner has stopped cleaning in my area and declared himself bankrupt - that's a new one on me 

Going bankrupt I understand.  For some people it's the only way to get out of debt that has built up over time.  As he was a  window cleaner it's unlikely that it was a business bankruptcy as it's hard to build up serious business debts - especially if a sole trader.  Indeed, if he didn't own his own house or his house was in negative equity, it's very unlikely it would be taken from him.
Stopping trading I don't get though.  When going bankrupt your debts are wiped clean.  Sometimes an order will be made to pay a certain amount each month for a while (sometimes a number of years) - especially if the receiver feels that you have manipulated financial data to suit your purpose.  Therefore I could understand someone making it look like they have stopped trading (i.e. cooking their books) to reduce the liability of a bankruptcy order, but not to actually stop trading.
I think it's more likely that now his outgoings have been vastly reduced, he doesn't need to work so hard to keep up with the debt repayments so is working less.

[gewindows]

Nothing like a bit of speculation.

Perhaps he's had a sex change and 'he' is now 'she'.

[S]

Or if it is less than £15000, you can apply for a debt relief order. Simply means, no one can chase you for your debts for one year. If your money stuation/ earnings have not changed much in the year. Then after a year, your debts are cleared.
Not quit has bad has bankrupty.

[alanwilson]

if you are declared bankrupt then you can no longer be a director of a business, in so working for himself as self employed he is effectively a director and therefore is not allowed to maintain his position after bankruptcy.

[tacky]

might have done it to go on dole .clean windows on the side .good luck to him .probly better off that way

[Rob Smith]

if you are declared bankrupt then you can no longer be a director of a business, in so working for himself as self employed he is effectively a director and therefore is not allowed to maintain his position after bankruptcy.

not true....if he is a sole trader he can of course keep working. He cannot be a director.

[Paul Coleman]

if you are declared bankrupt then you can no longer be a director of a business, in so working for himself as self employed he is effectively a director and therefore is not allowed to maintain his position after bankruptcy.

No he's not a director.  It has to be a limited company for him to have that status.

EDIT:  Just noticed Rob Smith said similar too.  Nothing like a bit of repetition 

[G Griffin]

Nothing like a bit of speculation.

Perhaps he's had a sex change and 'he' is now 'she'.

 That would explain the debts.