The Act amends the Family Home Protection Act 1976 by redefining ‘‘dwelling’’ to include any building or part of a building occupied as a separate dwelling, ancillary garden or land not used primarily for commercial purposes, structures not permanently attached to the ground, and vehicles or vessels occupied as separate dwellings. Section 3 is amended to add subsections providing a six‑year limitation on proceedings to declare a conveyance void by reason of subsection (1), subject to an exception where a spouse has been in actual occupation from immediately before the six‑year expiry until proceedings are instituted; to declare conveyances not void unless so adjudicated by a court or stated in writing by parties or successors within six years; to require certified statements to be lodged in the Land Registry or Registry of Deeds; to require lis pendens entries; and to deem a prior general written consent to future conveyance as a prior consent for subsection (1) purposes.

Section 10 is amended to confer District Court jurisdiction equivalent to the High Court where the family home’s rateable valuation does not exceed £20, and jurisdiction over disposal or removal of household chattels where value does not exceed £5,000 or the home’s rateable valuation does not exceed £20, with power to determine hypothetical rateable valuation. The definition amendment does not apply to conveyances, proceedings, acts or transactions occurring before commencement. Where a court grants judicial separation under the Act of 1989 and vests ownership of the family home in one spouse, the court shall, unless it sees reason to the contrary, order that section 3(1) will not apply to that spouse’s subsequent conveyances.