Relief from the forfeiture of a licence – Guildhall Chambers

Posted November 20th, 2019 in forfeiture, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘Traditionally it has been supposed that only tenants of leases could obtain relief from forfeiture; Grays’
Elements of Land Law 5th Ed. §4.1.69:
Only a tenant – and not a licensee – may ask for relief against forfeiture.
This has just been reversed by the Supreme Court (23rd October 2019).’

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Guildhall Chambers, 7th November 2019

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

If you go down to the woods today – Nearly Legal

Posted November 18th, 2019 in damages, estoppel, housing, human rights, landlord & tenant, leases, news, rent, repairs, repossession by sally

‘This is a rather odd case concerning possession of a farmhouse in the Forest of Dean. It had been first occupied by the defendant’s mother and step father in 1993. The terms of this were in dispute, but the rent was £155 and the step-father was to undertake repairs and maintenance to the property. The step-father did carry out some repairs, but he moved out in 2002, visiting and leaving some possessions there thereafter. The mother moved out in 2006. Various other family and friends lived at the property in subsequent years. The defendant had rented and bought property of his own, but took on repairs to the farmhouse and regarded it as his family home.’

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Nearly Legal, 17th November 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Upper Tribunal roundup (The Very Late Summer 2019 edition) – Nearly Legal

Posted November 7th, 2019 in costs, housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, service charges, tribunals by sally

‘There have been a fair few recent (and perhaps no-so-recent) decisions from the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) on leasehold matters, so it’s time for a bit of a round up.’

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Nearly Legal, 5th November 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Supreme Court backs freeholder in leasehold covenant dispute – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 31st, 2019 in covenants, landlord & tenant, leases, news, planning, Supreme Court by sally

‘Supreme Court justices have ruled by a three to two majority that a freeholder was entitled to withhold consent for a leaseholder to apply for planning permission that might reduce the value of a West End property.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Negotiating Retail CVAs – where are we now? Amanda Eilledge considers the recent decision in Discovery (Northampton) Limited v Debenhams [2019] EWHC 2441 (Ch) – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted October 31st, 2019 in insolvency, leases, news, rent by sally

‘2018 was seen by many as the ‘year of the CVA’ and the year of the so -called ‘Retail CVA’ in particular. Such CVAs have been used in an attempt by companies operating in the retail and casual dining sector with burdensome leases to reduce the cost of their premises whilst continuing to trade.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 14th October 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

For this relief, much thanks – Nearly Legal

Posted October 30th, 2019 in appeals, equity, forfeiture, leases, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Just a quick note to record that the Supreme Court has held that the equitable remedy of relief from forfeiture is not restricted to those with a proprietary interest (lease/tenancy, mortgage etc) but can also extend to licensees with possessory rights (ie a right to occupy or use the land). The whole thing is fascinating, but this is not the place to get into the details of the history of equitable relief.’

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Nearly Legal, 29th October 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Defeating tenancy renewal requests by reason of redevelopment – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 22nd, 2019 in landlord & tenant, leases, news, planning by sally

‘The county court in England recently considered the ability of a landlord to oppose its tenant’s lease renewal due to its intention to carry out substantial construction work on the premises.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 11th, 2019 in brexit, EC law, leases, legislation, parliament, repairs by sally

Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019

European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019

Kew Gardens (Leases) Act 2019

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Court finds for landlord over possession of under-occupied property – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court Of Appeal has clarified the law over when a council should serve a notice seeking possession from a resident who has succeeded to a tenancy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Clash of rights of operators and landowner rights to redevelop clarified by Tribunal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 15th, 2019 in landlord & tenant, leases, news, planning, telecommunications by sally

‘Land owners can prevent telecoms operators installing telecoms equipment on their property if they have a “firm, settled and unconditional intention” of redeveloping the sites the operators have earmarked, and can show that they have a reasonable prospect of being able to carry out their redevelopment plans, a tribunal has ruled.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th July 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

High Court brings clarity over ‘contracting out’ of leases in statutory declarations – OUT-LAW.com

‘The English and Welsh High Court has clarified the wording to use in statutory declaration when “contracting out” of business lease legislation.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th June 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Court of Appeal judgment gives guidance on meaning of ‘practical completion’ – OUT-LAW

Posted May 14th, 2019 in appeals, construction industry, contracts, interpretation, leases, news by sally

‘A Court of Appeal ruling clarifies the meaning of “practical completion”, a common source of dispute between construction contractors and employers.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th May 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Song from under the floorboards – Nearly Legal

Posted May 7th, 2019 in appeals, consent, contracts, covenants, enforcement, housing, leases, news, nuisance by sally

‘Fouladi v Darout Ltd & Ors (2018) EWHC 3501 (Ch). Although the judgment is dated December 2018, this has just appeared – a case on the perennially vexed topic of noise from a flat above. In fact it is an appeal and cross appeal on a county court judgment and order on a claim by a leaseholder against both the upstairs leaseholder and the freeholder. The reason that the claim was made, reached trial and then appeal might be connected to the value of the claimant’s flat being some £2,400,000.’

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Nearly Legal, 6th May 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Complications of practical completion – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 9th, 2019 in construction industry, contracts, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘Practical completion of works is often the trigger for other events, such as the grant of a lease. In that scenario, a landlord carries out works in accordance with a planning permission and specification pursuant to a building contract. When the works are practically complete in accordance with the building contract, the landlord will grant and the tenant will accept the lease.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th April 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Landlord’s access and actually turning up – Nearly Legal

Posted April 5th, 2019 in contracts, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘New Crane Wharf Freehold Ltd v Dovener (LANDLORD AND TENANT – clause in lease required tenant to permit the landlord to enter) (2019) UKUT 98 (LC). What counts as “refusing access”, where a landlord has a contractual right to access on notice? This rather odd Upper Tribunal case does at least provide a degree of clarification.’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd April 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

“Practical completion” considered by Court Appeal for first time in 50 years – Practical Law: Construction Blog

‘It is well known that practical completion is often easier to recognise than it is to define, which is why the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Mears Ltd v Costplan Services (South East) Ltd and others is an important read for construction practitioners.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 29th March 2019

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Leasehold Enfranchisement Claims – Why it is difficult to reach an amicable solution – Tanfield Chambers

Posted March 20th, 2019 in enfranchisement, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘ALEP member Nicola Muir is a senior member of the Tanfield Chambers’ property team. She is a specialist in enfranchisement law and all aspects of landlord and tenant law. In this article she examines the complexity of legislation surrounding landlord and tenant disputes.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 14th March 2019

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Court of Appeal blow for councils over business rates and empty properties – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 14th, 2019 in leases, local government, news, rates by sally

‘Councils may be left unable to claim some £10m in business rates after Rossendale Borough Council lost a test case in the Court of Appeal over empty properties.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

EU body granted permission to appeal ruling on Brexit and frustration of Canary Wharf lease – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 13th, 2019 in appeals, brexit, EC law, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has granted the European Medicines Agency (EMA) permission to appeal in a dispute over whether its 25-year lease at Canary Wharf will be frustrated by Brexit.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council wins Upper Tribunal battle over service charge and replacement central heating – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has ruled that the London Borough of Southwark can recover a service charge for work in a leaseholder’s flat after the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) said nothing was payable.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk