Insolvency Act 1986 Part IX Bankruptcy

Rights under trusts of land

335A. Rights under trusts of land

1. Any application by a trustee of a bankrupt's estate under section 14 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (powers of court in relation to trusts of land) for an order under that section for the sale of land shall be made to the court having jurisdiction in relation to the bankruptcy.
2. On such an application the court shall make such an order as it thinks just and reasonable having regard to -
   1. the interests of the bankrupt's creditors;
   2. where the application is made in respect of land which includes a dwelling house which is or has been the home of the bankrupt or the bankrupt's spouse or former spouse -
      1. the conduct of the spouse or former spouse, so far as contributing to the bankruptcy,
      2. the needs and financial resources of the spouse or former spouse, and
      3. the needs of any children; and
         all the circumstances of the case other than the needs of the bankrupt.
3. (3) Where such application is made after the end of the period of one year beginning with the first vesting under Chapter IV of this Part of the bankrupt's estate in a trustee, the court shall assume, unless the circumstances of the case are exceptional, that the interests of the bankrupt's creditors outweigh all other considerations.
4. (4) The powers conferred on the court by this section are exercisable on an application whether it is made before or after the commencement of this section.

Rights of occupation

336. Rights of occupation etc of bankrupt's spouse

1. Nothing occurring in the initial period of the bankruptcy (that is to sat, the period beginning with the day of the presentation of the petition for the bankruptcy order and ending with the vesting of the bankrupt's estate in a trustee) is to be taken as having given rise to any rights of occupation under the Matrimonial Homes Act 1983 in relation to a dwelling house comprised in the bankrupt's estate.
2. Where a spouse's rights of occupation under the Act of 1983 are a charge on the estate or interest of the other spouse, or of trustees for the other spouse, and the spouse is adjudged bankrupt -
   1. the charge continues to subsist notwithstanding the bankruptcy and, subject to the provisions of that Act, binds the trustee of the bankrupt's estate and persons deriving title under that trustee, and
   2. any application for an order under section 1 of that Act shall be made to the court having jurisdiction in relation to the bankruptcy.
3. Where a person and his spouse or former spouse are trustees for sale of a dwelling house and that person is adjudged bankrupt, any application by the trustee of the bankrupt's estate for an order under section 30 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (powers of court where trustees for sale refuse to act) shall be made to the court having jurisdiction in relation to the bankruptcy.
4. On such an application as is mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) the court shall make such order under section 1 of the Act of 1925 as it thinks just and reasonable having regard to -
   1. the interests of the bankrupt's creditors,
   2. the conduct of the spouse or former spouse, so far as contributing to the bankruptcy,
   3. the needs and financial resources of the spouse or former spouse,
   4. the needs of any children, and
   5. all the circumstances of the case other than the needs of the bankrupt.
5. Where such an application is made after the end of the period of one year beginning with the first vesting under Chapter IV of this Part of the bankrupt's estate in a trustee, the court shall assume, unless the circumstances of the case are exceptional, that the interests of the bankrupt's creditors outweigh all other considerations.

337. Rights of occupation of bankrupt

1. This section applies where -
   1. a person who is entitled to occupy a dwelling house by virtue of a beneficial estate or interest is adjudged bankrupt, and
   2. any persons under the age of 18 with whom that person had at some time occupied that dwelling house had their home with that person at the time when the bankruptcy petition was presented and at the commence- ment of the bankruptcy.
2. Whether or not the bankrupt's spouse (if any) has rights of occupation under the Matrimonial Homes Act 1983 -
   1. the bankrupt has the following rights as against the trustee of his estate -
      1. if in occupation, a right not to be evicted or excluded from the dwelling house or any part of it, except with the leave of the court,
      2. if not in occupation, a right with the leave of the court to enter into and occupy the dwelling house, and
   2. the bankrupt's rights are a charge, having the like priority as an equitable interest created immediately before the commencement of the bankruptcy, on so much of his estate or interests in the dwelling house as vests in the trustee.
3. The Act of 1983 has effect, with the necessary modifications, as if -
   1. the rights conferred by paragraph (a) of subsection (2) were rights of occupation under that Act,
   2. any application for leave such as is mentioned in that paragraph were an application for an order under section 1 of that Act, and
   3. any charge under paragraph (b) of that subsection on the estate or interest of the trustee were a charge under that Act on the estate or interest of a spouse.
4. Any application for leave such as is mentioned in subsection (2) (a) or otherwise by virtue of this section for an order under section 1 of the Act of 1983 shall be made to the court having jurisdiction in relation to the bankruptcy.
5. On such an application the court shall make such order under section 1 of the Act of 1983 as it thinks just and reasonable having regard to the interests of the creditors, to the bankrupt's financial resources, to the needs of the children and to all the circumstances of the case other than the needs of the bankrupt.
6. Where such an application is made after the end of the period of one year beginning with the first vesting (under Chapter IV of this Part) of the bankrupt's estate in a trustee, the court shall assume, unless the circumstances of the case are exceptional , that the interests of the bankrupt's creditors outweigh all other considerations.

338. Payments in respect of premises occupied by bankrupt

Where any premises comprised in a bankrupt's estate are occupied by him (whether by virtue of the preceding section or otherwise) on condition that he makes payments towards satisfying any liability arising under a mortgage of the premises or otherwise towards the outgoings of the premises, the bankrupt does not, by virtue of those payments, acquire any interest in the premises.

Adjustment of prior transaction, etc

339. Transactions at an undervalue

1. Subject as follows in this section and section 341 and 342, where an individual is adjudged bankrupt and he has at a relevant time (defined in section 341) entered into a transaction with any person at an undervalue, the trustee of the bankrupt's estate may apply to the court for an order under this section.
2. The court shall, on such an application, make such order as it thinks fir for restoring the position to what it would have been if that individual had not entered into that transaction.
3. For the purposes of this section and sections 341 and 342, an individual enters into a transaction with a person at an undervalue if -
   1. he makes a gift to that person or he otherwise enters into a transaction with that person on terms that provide for him to receive no consideration.
   2. he enters into a transaction with that person in consideration of marriage, or
   3. he enters into a transaction with that person for a consideration the value of which, in money or money's worth, is significantly less than the value, in money or money's worth, of the consideration provided by the individual.

340. Preferences

1. Subject as follows in this and the next two sections, where an individual is adjudged bankrupt and he has a relevant time (defined in section 341) given a preference to any person, the trustee of the bankrupt's estate may apply to the court for an order under this section.
2. The court shall, on such an application, make such order as it thinks fit for restoring the position to what it would have been if that individual had not given that preference.
3. For the purposes of this and the next sections, an individual gives a preference to a person if -
   1. that person is one of the individual's creditors or a surety or guarantor for any of his debts or other liabilities,
   2. the individual does anything or suffers anything to be done which (in either case) has the effect of putting that person into a position which, in the event of the individual's bankruptcy, will be better than the position he would have been in if that thing had not been done.
4. The court shall not make an order under this section in respect of a preference given to any person unless the individual who gave the preference was influenced in deciding to give it by a desire to produce in relation to that person the effect mentioned in sub- section (3)(b) above.
5. An individual who has given a preference to a person who, at the time the preference was given, was an associate of his (otherwise than by reason only of being his employee) is presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to have been influenced in deciding to give it by such a desire as is mentioned in subsection (4).
6. The fact that something has been done in pursuance of the order of a court does not, without more, prevent the doing or suffering of that thing from constituting the giving of a preference.

341. "Relevant time" under sections 339, 340

1. Subject as follows, the time at which an individual enters into a transaction at an undervalue or gives a preference is a relevant time if the transaction is entered into or the preference given -
   1. in the case of a transaction at an undervalue, at a time in the period of 5 years ending wit the day of the presentation of the bankruptcy petition on which the individual is adjudged bankrupt.
   2. in the case of a preference which is not a transaction at an undervalue and is given to a person sho is an associate of the individual (otherwise than by reason only of being his employee), at a time in the period of 2 years ending with that day, and
   3. in any other case of a preference which is not a transaction at an undervalue, at a time in the period of 6 months ending with that day.
2. Where an individual enters into a transaction at an undervalue or gives a preference at a time mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or of subsection (1) (not being, in the case of a transaction at an undervalue, a time less than 2 years before the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (a), that time is not a relevant time for the purposes of sections 339 and 340 unless the individual -
   1. is insolvent at that time, or
   2. becomes insolvent in consequence of the transaction or preference;
      but the requirements of this subsection are presumed to be satisfied, unless the contrary is shown, in relation to any transaction at an undervalue which is entered into by an individual with a person who is an associate of his (otherwise than by reason only of being his employee).
3. For the purposes of subsection (2), an individual is insolvent if -
   1. he is unable to pay his debts as they fall due, or
   2. the value of his assets is less than the amount of his liabilities, taking into account his contingent and prospective liabilities.
4. A transaction entered into or preference given by a person who is subsequently adjudged bankrupt on a petition under section 264(1)(d) criminal bankruptcy) is to be treated as having been entered into or given at a relevant time for the purposes of sections 339 and 340 if it was entered into or given at any time on or after the date specified for the purposes of this subsection in the criminal bankruptcy order on which the petition was based.
5. No order shall be made under section 339 or 340 by virtue of subsection (4) of this section where an appeal is pending (within the meaning of section 277) against the individual's conviction of any offence by virtue of which the criminal bankruptcy order was made

342. Orders under sections 339, 340

342A. Recovery of excessive pension contributions

342B. Orders under section 342A

342C. Orders under section 342A: supplementary

343. Extortionate credit transactions

344. Avoidance of general assignment of book debts

345. Contract to which bankruptcy is a party

346. Enforcement proceduress

1. Subject to section 285 in Chapter II (restrictions on proceedings and remedies) and to the following provisions of this section, where the creditor of any person who is adjudged bankrupt has, before the commencement of that bankruptcy -
   1. issued execution against the goods or land of that person, or
   2. attached a debt due to that person from another person, that creditor is not entitled, as against the official receiver or trustee of the bankrupt's estate, to retain the benefit of the execution or attachment, or any sums paid to avoid it, unless the execution or attachment was completed, or the sums were paid, before the commencement of the bankruptcy.
2. Subject as follows, where any goods of a person have been taken in execution, then, if before the completion of the execution notice is given to the sheriff or other officer charged with the execution that that person has been adjudged bankrupt -
   1. the sheriff or other officer shall request deliver to the official receiver or trustee of the bankrupt's estate the goods and any money seized or recovered in part satisfaction of the execution, but
   2. the costs of the execution are a first charge on the goods or money so delivered and the official receiver or trustee may sell the goods or a sufficient part of them for the purpose of satisfying the charge.
3. Subject to subsection (6) below, where -
   1. under an execution in respect of a judgment for a sum exceeding such sum as may be prescribed for the purposes of this subsection, the goods of any person are sold or money is paid in order to avoid a sale, and
   2. before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day of the sale or payment the sheriff or other officer charged with the execution is given notice that a bankruptcy petition has been presented in relation to that person, and
   3. a bankruptcy order is or has been made on that petition,
      the balance of the proceeds of sale or money paid, after deducting the costs of execution, shall (in priority to the claim of the execution creditor) be comprised in the bankrupt's estate.
4. Accordingly, in the case of an execution in respect of a judgment for a sum exceeding the sum prescribed for the purposes of subsection (3), the sheriff or other officer charged with the execution -
   1. shall not dispose of the balance mentioned in subsection (3) at any time within the period of 14 days so mentioned or while there is pending a bankruptcy petition of which he has been given notice under that subsection, and
   2. shall pay that balance, where by virtue of that subsection it is comprised in the bankrupt's estate, to the official receiver or (if there is one) to the trustee of that estate.
5. For the purposes of this section -
   1. an execution against goods is completed by seizure and sale or by the making of a charging order under section 1 of the Charging Orders Act 1979;
   2. an execution against land is completed by seizure, by the appointment of a receiver or by the making of a charging order under that section;
   3. an attachment of a debt is completed by the receipt of the debt.
6. The rights conferred by subsections (1) to (3) on the official receiver or the trustee may, to such extent and on such terms as it thinks fit, be set aside by the court in favour of the creditor who has issued the execution or attached the debt.
7. Nothing in this section entitles the trustee of a bankrupt's estate to claim goods from a person who has acquired them in good faith under a sale by a sheriff or other officer charged with an execution.
8. Neither subsection (2) nor subsection (3) applies in relation to any execution against property which has been acquired by or has devolved upon the bankrupt since the commencement of the bankruptcy, unless, at the time the execution is issued or before it is completed -
   1. the property has been or is claimed for the bankrupt's estate under section 307 (after-acquired property), and
   2. a copy of the notice given under that section has been or is served on the sheriff or other officer charged with the execution.

347. Distress,etc

1. The right of any landlord or other person to whom rent is payable to distrain upon the goods and effects of an undischarged bankrupt for rent due to him from the bankrupt is available (subject to subsection (5) below) against goods and effects comprised in the bankrupt's estate, but only for 6 months' rent accrued due before the commencement of the bankruptcy.
2. Where a landlord or other person to whom rent is payable has distrained for rent upon the goods and effects of an individual to whom a bankruptcy petition relates and a bankruptcy order is subsequently made on that petition, any amount recovered by way of that distress which -
   1. is in excess of the amount which by virtue of subsection (1) would have been recoverable after the commencement of the bankruptcy, or
   2. is in respect of rent for a period or part of a period after the distress was levied, shall be held for the bankrupt as part of his estate.
3. Where any person (whether or not a landlord or person entitled to rent) has distrained upon the goods or effects of an indivdual who is adjudged bankrupt before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the distraint, so much of those goods or effects, or the proceeds of their sale, as is not held for the bankrupt under subsection (2) shall be charged for the benefit of the bankrupt's estate with the preferential debts of the bankrupt to the extent that the bankrupt's estate is for the time being insufficient for meeting those debts.
4. Where by virtue of any charge under subsection (3) any person surrenders any goods or effects to the trustee of a bankrupt's estate or makes a payment to such a trustee, that person ranks, in respect of the amount of the proceeds of the sale of those goods or effects by the trustee or, as the case may be, the amount of payment, as a preferential creditor of the bankrupt, except as against so much of the bankrupt's estate as is available for the payment of preferential creditors by virtue of the surrender of payment.
5. A landlord or other person to whom rent is payable is not at any time after the discharge of a bankrupt entitled to distrain upon any goods of effects comprised in the bankrupt's estate.
6. Where in the case of any execution -
   1. a landlord is (apart from this section) entitled under section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1709 or section 102 of the County Courts Act 1984 (claims for rent where goods seized in execution) to claim for an amount not exceeding one year's rent, and
   2. the person against whom the execution is levied is adjudged bankrupt before the notice of claim is served on the sheriff or other officer charged with the execution, the right of the landlord to claim under that section is restricted to a right of claim for an amount not exceeding 6 months' rent and does not extend to any rent payable in respect of a period after the notice of claim is so served.
7. Nothing in subsection (6) imposes any liability on a sheriff or other officer charged with an execution to account to the official receiver or the trustee of a bankrupt's estate for any sums paid by him to a landlord at any time before the sheriff or other officer was served with notice of the bankruptcy order in question.
   But this subsection is without prejudice to the liability of the landlord.
8. Nothing in this Group of Parts affdects any right to distrain otherwise than for rent; and any such reight is at any time exercisable without restriction against property comprised in a bankrupt's estate, even if that right is expressed by any enactment to be exercisable in like manner as a right to distrain for rent.
9. Any right to distrain against property comprised in a bankrupt's estate is exercisable notwithstanding that the property has vested in the trustee.
10. The provisions of this section are without prejudice to a landlord's right in a bankruptcy to prove for any bankruptcy debt in respect of rent.

348. Apprenticeships, etc

1. This section applies where -
   1. a bankruptcy order is made in respect of an individual to whom another individual was an apprentice or articled clerk at the time when the petition on which the order was presented, and
   2. the bankrupt or the apprentice or clerk gived notice to the trustee terminating the apprenticeship or articles.
2. Subject to subsection (6) below, the indnture of apprenticeship or, as the case may be, the articles of agreement shall be discharged with effect from the commencement of the bankruptcy.
3. If any money has been paid by or on behalf of the apprentice or clerk to the bankrupt as a fee, the trustee may, on an application made by or on behalf of the apprentice or clerk, pay such sum to the apprentice or clerk as the trustee thinks reasonable, having regard to -
   1. the amount of the fee,
   2. the proportion of the period in respect of which the fee was paid that has been served by the apprentice or clerk before the commencement of the bankruptcy, and
   3. the other circumstances of the case.
4. The power of the trustee to make a payment under subsection (3) has priority over his obligation to distribute the bankrupt's estate.
5. Instead of making a payment under subsection (3), the trustee may, if it appears to him expedient to do so on an application made by or on behalf of the apprentice or clerk, transfer the indenture or articles to a person other than the bankrupt.
6. Where a transfer is made under subsection (5), subsection (2) has effect only as between the apprentice or clerk and the bankrupt.

349. Unenforceability of liens on books, etc

1. Subject as follows, a lien or other right to retain possession of any of the books, papers or other records of a bankrupt is unenforceable to the extent that ir enforcement would deny possession of any books, papers or other records to the official receiver or the trustee of the bankrupt's estate.
2. Subsection (1) does not apply to a lien on documents which give a title to property and are held as such.

349A. Arbitration agreements to which bankruptcy is party

1. This section applies where a bankrupt had become party to a contract containing an arbitration agreement before the commencement of his bankruptcy.
2. If the trustee in bankruptcy adopts the contract, the arbitration agreement is enforceable by or against the trustee in relation to matters arising from or connected with the contract.
3. If the trustee in bankruptcy does not adopt the contract and a matter to which the arbitration agreement applies requires to be determined in connection with or for the purposes of the bankruptcy proceedings -
   1. the trustee with the consent of the creditors' committeee, or
   2. any other party to the agreement, may apply to the court which may, if it thinks fit in all the circumstancesa of the case, order that the matter be referred to arbitration in accordance with the arbitration agreement.
4. In this section -
   "arbitration agreement" has the same meaning as in Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996; and
   "the court" means the court which has jurisdiction in the bankruptcy proceedings.