The Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

7.—(1) If a spouse or cohabitee is entitled to occupy the dwelling-house by virtue of a protected tenancy or a secure tenancy the court may by order direct that, as from such date as may be specified in the order, there shall, by virtue of the order and without further assurance, be transferred to, and vested in, the other spouse or cohabitee—

(a) the estate which the spouse or cohabitee so entitled had in the dwelling-house immediately before that date by virtue of the lease or agreement creating the tenancy and any assignment of that lease or agreement, with all rights, privileges and appurtenances attaching to that estate but subject to all covenants, obligations, liabilities and incumbrances to which it is subject, and

(b) where the spouse or cohabitee so entitled is an assignee of such lease or agreement, the liability of that spouse or cohabitee under any covenant of indemnity by the assignee expressed or implied in the assignment of the lease or agreement to that spouse or cohabitee.

(2) If an order is made under this paragraph, any liability or obligation to which the spouse or cohabitee so entitled is subject under any covenant having reference to the dwelling-house in the lease, agreement or assignment, being a liability or obligation falling due to be discharged or performed on or after the date so specified, shall not be enforceable against that spouse or cohabitee.

(3) If the spouse so entitled is a successor within the meaning of Chapter II of Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, his former spouse or former cohabitee (or, if a decree of judicial separation is in force, his spouse) shall be deemed also to be a successor within the meaning of that Chapter.