69.— (1) In formulating a proposal for a Debt Settlement Arrangement a personal insolvency practitioner shall, insofar as reasonably practicable, and having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (2), formulate the proposal on terms that will not require the debtor to—

(a) dispose of an interest in, or

(b) cease to occupy,

all or a part of his or her principal private residence and the personal insolvency practitioner shall consider any appropriate alternatives.

(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) the costs likely to be incurred by the debtor by remaining in occupation of his or her principal private residence (including rent, mortgage loan repayments, insurance payments, owners’ management company service charges and contributions, taxes or other charges relating to ownership or occupation of the property imposed by or under statute, and necessary maintenance in respect of the principal private residence),

(b) the debtor’s income and other financial circumstances as disclosed in the Prescribed Financial Statement,

(c) the ability of other persons residing with the debtor in the principal private residence to contribute to the costs referred to in paragraph (a), and

(d) the reasonable living accommodation needs of the debtor and his or her dependants and having regard to those needs the cost of alternative accommodation (including the costs which would necessarily be incurred in obtaining such accommodation).

(3) Where—

(a) the debtor confirms in writing to the personal insolvency practitioner that the debtor does not wish to remain in occupation of his or her principal private residence; or

(b) the personal insolvency practitioner, has, having discussed the issue with the debtor, formed the opinion that, taking account of the matters referred to in subsection (2), the costs of continuing to reside in the debtor’s principal private residence are disproportionately large,

the personal insolvency practitioner shall not be required to formulate the proposal for a Debt Settlement Arrangement on terms that will not require the debtor to cease to occupy his or her principal private residence.

(4) A Debt Settlement Arrangement shall not contain terms providing for a disposal of the debtor’s interest in the principal private residence unless:

(a) the debtor has obtained independent legal advice in relation to such disposal or, having been advised by the personal insolvency practitioner to obtain such legal advice, has declined to do so; and

(b) to the extent that the provisions of the Family Home Protection Act 1976 or the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 apply to the property, all relevant provisions of those Acts are complied with.