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Bankruptcy and Repossession

By: Louise Smith, barrister - Updated: 29 Nov 2018 | comments*Discuss
 
Bankruptcy Repossession Trustee Bankrupt

Bankruptcy proceedings may lead to the repossession and forced sale of an individual's home.

Discharge of a Bankruptcy Order

Bankruptcy rules have been partially liberalised to make it easier for someone who has been made bankrupt to start again without the burden of their debts hanging over them. In many cases, if the bankrupt person has behaved honestly and cooperated with the Official Receiver and their trustee in bankruptcy, a bankruptcy order will automatically be discharged after one year.

However, where a bankrupt person has a substantial asset - such as their home - things may be more complicated. If the debts have not been paid off by other means during the twelve months following the making of a bankruptcy order, this could result in the repossession and sale of the bankrupt person's property.

Bankruptcy and Property

When a bankruptcy order is made against an individual all their assets are said to "vest in the bankruptcy". At the same time that all existing debts will be included in what is known as the bankruptcy estate, all existing credits or assets will also become part of it. The bankrupt person no longer has the right to deal with his assets as he wishes. In effect, they become the property of the trustee in bankruptcy. The trustee assesses all existing debts and takes steps to satisfy them.

A bankrupt person’s interest in any property is automatically transferred to their trustee in bankruptcy when they become bankrupt. If the bankrupt person owns the property alone the whole property passes to the trustee. If the bankrupt person owns the property together with someone else, only the share owned by the bankrupt person passes to the trustee.

Orders for Sale Within 12 Months of a Bankruptcy Order

To realise the value of a property which belongs to a bankrupt person their trustee in bankruptcy may apply to the court for an order which allows the trustee to sell the property. The approach taken by the courts to such applications may depend on when the application is made.

If an application for an order for sale is made during the first year after a bankruptcy order, the court may give preference to the welfare and interests of any other people living in the property - such as the family of the bankrupt person. The court may decide not to allow the sale of the property if they believe that the negative impact on the family would outweigh the benefits to be gained by the bankrupt person’s creditors. This may be particularly relevant where the equity in the property would be insufficient to substantially satisfy the bankrupt person’s debts.

Orders for Sale More than 12 Months After a Bankruptcy Order

Where an application for an order for sale is made more than 12 months after a bankruptcy order, the interests of creditors must take priority unless there are “exceptional circumstances”. When deciding an application for an order for sale by a trustee in bankruptcy the court may take into account the behaviour and needs of the bankrupt person’s spouse (including whether they contributed to the bankruptcy) and the needs of any children. The court is not required to take into account the behaviour or needs of the bankrupt person.

Opposing a Trustee in Bankruptcy’s Application for an Order for Sale

A bankrupt person may oppose an application for an order for sale by asking the judge to allow more time for the property to be re-mortgaged, sold voluntarily or so that funds can be raised in some other way to clear the bankruptcy debts. The judge may even be persuaded to allow the bankrupt person to make monthly contributions towards the debts. However, a judge may be less sympathetic to this kind of proposal if a substantial amount of time has passed since the bankruptcy order was made or if the bankrupt person lives in the property alone.

Extending the Time in Which a Trustee in Bankruptcy May Sell a Property

A trustee in bankruptcy could lose the right to sell the property if they wait longer than three years from the date of the bankruptcy order before doing so. To prevent this they could apply for a charge over the property. A trustee in bankruptcy may be able to obtain a charge over a property after more than three years if the existence of the property had been kept secret by the bankrupt person.

The courts also have general powers under the bankruptcy rules to either prevent the automatic discharge of a bankruptcy order or to extend the time during which a property remains in the bankruptcy estate if it considers it appropriate to do so.

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[Add a Comment]
I was made Bankrupt by the HMRC . After 3 years following discharge The trustee is going for possession and sale of my house i,ve lived in my house for 25 years and now have to give it up .. this country is terrible and body want to buy my house ? so sad
Thetrader - 29-Nov-18 @ 10:47 PM
loopy - Your Question:
I am thinking of going bankrupt. My husband and I are pensioners. We have a 50% interest only joint mortgage on a shared ownership house. There is some equity as we have lived in it for 14 years. What would happen to the house?

Our Response:
You really need to seek professional financial advice on this, we can't give advice of this nature as we're not in possession of all the facts.
HousingRepossessions - 3-Aug-18 @ 10:25 AM
I am thinking of going bankrupt. My husband and I are pensioners. We have a 50% interest only joint mortgage on a shared ownership house. There is some equity as we have lived in it for 14 years. What would happen to the house?
loopy - 31-Jul-18 @ 5:35 PM
bigC - Your Question:
I was made bankrupt by my local council because my SSAS Pension failed to pay the business rates on an office it owns. The only connection with me is that my name was on the title deeds to secure the commercial mortgage for the Pension Trust. I was taking care of my father for a period of 3 months and was living in his home during that time. When I returned to my own home I received a Winding Up order against my company and a Bankruptcy Order against me personally for the Business Rates debt. I didn't have an opportunity to go to court to be heard in this matter. I am now facing a hearing on the 29th May 2018 for the sale and possession of my home. All hearings on the above matter were not heard in my home court. The Local Council has no published policy to cover Debt Collection. They have caused me further losses and damage through the bankruptcy, not least because I was unable to borrow (credit rating damaged for 6 years) and I was unable to pass security clearance for two well-paid jobs. In other words, the bankruptcy prevented me from earning a living. Is there any opportunity to file an Annulment or a Writ of Mandamus? Honest people seem to have everything taken away from them and to be left to die on the street, whereas if I committed murder, I would be at least assured three meals a day and a dry prison cell? Is that what the law requires me to do in order to survive?

Our Response:
You should seek professional legal/financial advice on this as we're not able to give specific individual advice.
HousingRepossessions - 2-May-18 @ 12:32 PM
I was made bankrupt by my local council because my SSAS Pension failed to pay the business rates on an office it owns. The only connection with me is that my name was on the title deeds to secure the commercial mortgage for the Pension Trust. I was taking care of my father for a period of 3 months and was living in his home during that time. When I returned to my own home I received a Winding Up order against my company and a Bankruptcy Order against me personally for the Business Rates debt. I didn't have an opportunity to go to court to be heard in this matter. I am now facing a hearing on the 29th May 2018 for the sale and possession of my home. All hearings on the above matter were not heard in my home court. The Local Council has no published policy to cover Debt Collection. They have caused me further losses and damage through the bankruptcy, not least because I was unable to borrow (credit rating damaged for 6 years) and I was unable to pass security clearance for two well-paid jobs. In other words, the bankruptcy prevented me from earning a living. Is there any opportunity to file an Annulment or a Writ of Mandamus? Honest people seem to have everything taken away from them and to be left to die on the street, whereas if I committed murder, I would be at least assured three meals a day and a dry prison cell? Is that what the law requires me to do in order to survive?
bigC - 1-May-18 @ 8:51 AM
Tomorrow is my last date to pay the full amount of £1300. I'm trying to stop tge repossession and want to apply in court for my monthly payment plan. I have already given £11000 from £24000. Pls tell me if you can help me. Thank you.
aliya - 21-May-15 @ 7:16 PM
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