Many people assume that they will automatically lose their home if they are made bankrupt. This is not always the case. If there is a mortgage on the property, the bankruptcy order does not affect the rights of the mortgagee. Should you fall into arrears with your mortgage, then the mortgagee can repossess the property in accordance with the terms of the mortgage deed. Your home, or your share of it, automatically vests in your trustee on their appointment without any conveyance being necessary. The trustee is only interested in any equity that belongs to you, being made available to your creditors. Your trustee has the power to apply to the Court for an order to evict you and then sell the property. If you have a spouse living there or children under the age of 18 years, then an order for sale will not normally be granted until at least 12 months after the date of appointment of the trustee. If your house has only a small amount of equity in it, then it may be possible for a friend or relative to buy out your share. An application for an order for sale by the Trustee is normally a last resort.