6. References in this Part to a spouse[F1, civil partner] or a cohabitee being entitled to occupy a dwelling-house by virtue of a protected tenancy or a secure tenancy apply whether that entitlement is in his own right or jointly with the other spouse[F1, civil partner] or cohabitee.N.I.
7.—(1) If a spouse[F2, civil partner] 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[F2, civil partner] or cohabitee—N.I.
(a)the estate which the spouse[F2, civil partner] 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[F2, civil partner] or cohabitee so entitled is an assignee of such lease or agreement, the liability of that spouse[F2, civil partner] or cohabitee under any covenant of indemnity by the assignee expressed or implied in the assignment of the lease or agreement to that spouse[F2, civil partner] or cohabitee.
(2) If an order is made under this paragraph, any liability or obligation to which the spouse[F2, civil partner] 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[F2, civil partner] or cohabitee.
[F2(3) If the spouse, civil partner or cohabitee so entitled is a successor within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1118 (N.I. 15))—
(a)his former spouse (or, in the case of judicial separation, his spouse),
(b)his former civil partner (or, if a separation order is in force, his civil partner), or
(c)his former cohabitee,
is to be deemed also to be a successor within the meaning of that Chapter.]
8.—(1) This paragraph applies if the spouse[F3, civil partner] or cohabitee is entitled to occupy the dwelling-house by virtue of a statutory tenancy.N.I.
(2) The court may by order direct that, as from the date specified in the order,—
(a)that spouse[F3, civil partner] or cohabitee is to cease to be entitled to occupy the dwelling-house; and
(b)the other spouse[F3, civil partner] or cohabitee is to be deemed to be the tenant or, as the case may be, the sole tenant under that statutory tenancy.
(3) The question whether the provisions of paragraph 1 to 4, F4. . . of Schedule 1 to the [1978 NI 20.] Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, as to the succession by the widow or widower[F3 or surviving civil partner] of a deceased tenant, or by a member of the deceased tenant's family, to the right to retain possession are capable of having effect in the event of the death of the person deemed by an order under this paragraph to be the tenant or sole tenant under the statutory tenancy is to be determined according as those provisions or the corresponding provisions of the Rent Restriction Acts have or have not already had effect in relation to the statutory tenancy.
F4Words in Sch. 2 para. 8(3) repealed (1.4.2007) by Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1459 (N.I. 10)), arts. 1(3), 75, Sch. 5; S.R. 2006/428, art. 3(c)