Charge on bankrupt’s home
286.—(1) Where any property consisting of an interest in a dwelling house which is occupied by the bankrupt or by his spouse or former spouse is comprised in the bankrupt’s estate and the trustee is, for any reason, unable for the time being to realise that property, the trustee may apply to the High Court for an order imposing a charge on the property for the benefit of the bankrupt’s estate.
(2) If on an application under this Article the High Court imposes a charge on any property, the benefit of that charge shall be comprised in the bankrupt’s estate and is enforceable, up to the value from time to time of the property secured, for the payment of any amount which is payable otherwise than to the bankrupt out of the estate and of interest on that amount at the prescribed rate.
(3) An order under this Article made in respect of property vested in the trustee shall provide, in accordance with the rules, for the property to cease to be comprised in the bankrupt’s estate and, subject to the charge (and any prior charge), to vest in the bankrupt.
(4) An order under this Article may be made either absolutely or subject to conditions as to notifying the bankrupt or any person holding any interest in the property to which the order relates or as to the time when the charge is to become enforceable, or as to other matters.
(5) Subject to any provision made by rules, a charge imposed by an order under this Article shall have the like effect and shall be enforceable in the same courts and in the same manner as an equitable charge created by the bankrupt by writing under his hand.
(6) The High Court may at any time, on the application of the bankrupt or of any person holding any interest in the property to which the order relates make an order discharging or varying the order imposing a charge on the property.
(7) Where an order under this Article has been protected by an entry registered under the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland ) 1970(1) or the Registration of Deeds Acts, an order under paragraph (6) discharging that order may direct that the entry be vacated.