What happens to a bankrupt’s family home?

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What happens to a bankrupt’s family home?

When an individual is declared bankrupt, their interest in the “family home” is automatically transferred to the trustee. If the “family home” is solely owned by the bankrupt, then the legal interests transfers entirely in the trustee, whereas if the “family home” is jointly owned, then only the bankrupt’s share (i.e. their beneficial interest) in the “family home” transfers to the trustee.

The “family home” refers the bankrupt’s interest in a house, which is the sole or principal place of residence of the bankrupt, the bankrupt’s spouse or civil partner or a former spouse or civil partner, as at the date of the bankruptcy order. Therefore, if the bankrupt owns more than one property at the date of the bankruptcy order, it is important to establish which is the “family home”, for the purposes of the applicable rules; though if this is not obvious, a cautious trustee may be well advised to apply the three-year time limit to them all.

What is the three-year time limit?

Within three years from the date of the bankruptcy, there is a requirement for the trustee to take action and do something about this share. If no action is taken, the share in the property is automatically transferred back to the bankrupt.

Within three years of the bankruptcy order, the trustee must do one of the following:

  • Where the property was jointly owned by the bankrupt and their spouse or partner, the trustee will usually invite the co-owner to purchase the bankrupt’s share. If the spouse or partner can afford to do this, the share will be transferred to the spouse or partner (or any person elected by the spouse or partner). If they are unable to afford this, there is an option for another family member or friend to provide funds to enable the transfer of the bankrupt’s share to take place;
  • In the event that either the three-year time limit is looming and/or a voluntary sale is not agreed, then the trustee can apply to the court for a possession order and sale of the property.

Ordinarily, such application is not usually issued until after the first year of the bankruptcy. After this time, the Court is more likely than not to grant the order for possession and sale as the presumption is that the  interests of creditors now take priority over the bankrupt’s family to stay in the family home unless there are exceptional circumstances.

  • Place a charge on the property. An application can be made to place a charge on the property to protect the bankrupt’s estate if the trustee cannot apply for a possession order and sale. The value of the charge is limited to the trustee’s share of the property at date of registration.

Claims relating to the bankrupt’s family home

If a co-owner is unable to purchase the bankrupt’s share of the family from the trustee and the trustee threatens an application to the court for an order for possession and sale, the bankrupt and/or the co-owner may be able to challenge this. Below we set out a (non-exhaustive) list of possible challenges to the trustee’s application:

  1. The bankrupt does not have any beneficial interest in the family home;
  2. The bankrupt’s share in the family home is less than that which is alleged by the trustee;;
  3. The court may dismiss an application for the sale of a property if the realisable equity is below £1,000;
  4. There is a procedural error in the trustee’s application or the trustee has failed to comply with the rules on giving notice to the bankrupt, co-owners and occupiers;
  5. There are “exceptional” circumstances, which would have a significant detrimental impact on the occupants of the family home, if it were to be sold.
  6. The trustee’s application has been made outside of the three-year limit;
  7. The bankrupt has applied to annul, rescind or appeal the bankruptcy order. In practice, the court is more likely to stay the trustee’s application, pending the outcome of the bankrupt’s application to challenge the bankruptcy order;
  8. There are other assets belonging to the bankrupt which, when realised will be sufficient to satisfy the bankruptcy debts and expenses.

The bankrupt’s home is usually the most valuable asset in their estate and legal issues can arise in connection to the property. This may have a significant bearing on the outcome of the bankruptcy. Our legal experts can provide advice and assistance on the man issues that may arise in this area. For more information, please email litigation@grantsaw.co.uk or contact us on 020 8858 6971.

Meet the What happens to a bankrupt’s family home? team
Ray Crudgington
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
greenwich
02083054224
ray.crudgington@grantsaw.co.uk
Maria Lati
Maria Lati
Partner
Partner and Head of Residential Property
blackheath
02083054229
maria.lati@grantsaw.co.uk
Mike Clary
Family
Partner and Head of Family
greenwich
02083054237
mike.clary@grantsaw.co.uk
Kalpa Prajapati
Partner
Partner and Head of Private Client
blackheath
02083053536
kalpa.prajapati@grantsaw.co.uk
Mario Savvides
Commercial Property
Partner and Head of Commercial Property
greenwich
02083053531
mario.savvides@grantsaw.co.uk
Sarah-Kate Jackson
Litigation
Partner and Head of Litigation
greenwich
02083054236
sarah-kate.jackson@grantsaw.co.uk
Adina-Leigh Collins
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053556
adina-leigh.collins@grantsaw.co.uk
Aimal Gram
Commercial Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053524
aimal.gram@grantsaw.co.uk
Aisha Mohammed
Aisha Mohammed
Residential Property
Professional Support Lawyer
greenwich
02083054228
aisha.mohammed@grantsaw.co.uk
An Le Tran
Commercial Property
Professional Support Solicitor
greenwich
02083054226
anle.tran@grantsaw.co.uk
Ana-Maria Badeanu
Ana-Maria Badeanu
Corporate and Commercial
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053539
ana-maria.badeanu@grantsaw.co.uk
Angela Shaw
Angela Shaw
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054234
angela.shaw@grantsaw.co.uk
Angus Young
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054225
angus.young@grantsaw.co.uk
Atifha Aftab
Atifha Aftab
Family
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054238
atifha.aftab@grantsaw.co.uk
Bimal Kotecha
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053523
bimal.kotecha@grantsaw.co.uk
Charlotte Warren
Charlotte Warren
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054231
charlotte.warren@grantsaw.co.uk
Claire Mac Mahon
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053537
claire.macmahon@grantsaw.co.uk
Deborah Taite
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083053542
deborah.taite@grantsaw.co.uk
Emily Pearce
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053526
emily.pearce@grantsaw.co.uk
Georgia Beales
Litigation
Paralegal
greenwich
02083054206
georgia.beales@grantsaw.co.uk
Jeremy Brooks
Jeremy Brooks
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083053534
jeremy.brooks@grantsaw.co.uk
Joanna Godden
Notary Public
Notary
greenwich
02083083627
joanna.godden@grantsaw.co.uk
Lauren Smith
Employment
Paralegal
greenwich
02083053543
lauren.smith@grantsaw.co.uk
Mandeep Clair
Family
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054235
mandeep.clair@grantsaw.co.uk
Michael Pope
Corporate and Commercial
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053540
michael.pope@grantsaw.co.uk
Michelle Pinnington
Michelle Pinnington
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054216
michelle.pinnington@grantsaw.co.uk
Noella Gooden
Noella Gooden
Employment
Solicitor (Australian qualified)
greenwich
02083053543
noella.gooden@grantsaw.co.uk
Raj Waghela
Raj Waghela
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053529
raj.waghela@grantsaw.co.uk
Randeep Thethy
Randeep Thethy
Residential Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054209
randeep.thethy@grantsaw.co.uk
Sarah Hogan
Sarah Hogan
Residential Property
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054214
sarah.hogan@grantsaw.co.uk
Simona Morina
Simona Morina
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053521
simona.morina@grantsaw.co.uk
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Simone Gavioli
Litigation
Solicitor
greenwich
02083053548
simone.gavioli@grantsaw.co.uk
Susan Collins
Commercial Property
Solicitor
greenwich
02083054200
susan.collins@grantsaw.co.uk
Tatiana Zenina
Tatiana Zenina
Private Client
Solicitor
blackheath
02083054239
tatiana.zenina@grantsaw.co.uk
Trisha Djemal
Trisha Djemal
Residential Property
Consultant Solicitor
blackheath
02083053546
trisha.djemal@grantsaw.co.uk
Tyrone Grant
Residential Property
Head of Leasehold Enfranchisement
blackheath
02083053522
tyrone.grant@grantsaw.co.uk
Denise
Accounts Staff
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Helen Arney
Helen Arney
Support Staff
HR Manager
greenwich
02083054233
helen.arney@grantsaw.co.uk
Jamie
Support Staff
Head of IT
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Jayne Lye
Support Staff
Office Manager
greenwich
02083054204
jayne.lye@grantsaw.co.uk
Kasia
Accounts Staff
greenwich
02088586971
enquiries@grantsaw.co.uk
Michael Tobin
Michael Tobin
Support Staff
Marketing and Business Development Manager
greenwich
02083053550
michael.tobin@grantsaw.co.uk
Laura Danquah
Solicitor and Compliance Manager
greenwich
02083054222
laura.danquah@grantsaw.co.uk
Sue Holness
Support Staff
Customer Services
greenwich
02083054221
sue.holness@grantsaw.co.uk