(Year Books) One N. brought an action of waste against J., suggesting that he had cut down certain trees etc. And the defendant pleaded that he had committed no waste. Subsequently at nisi prius in the county he gave in evidence that the plaintiff had leased him a messuage with certain lands for a term of years by a deed and had granted to him that he might cut down trees to repair the house; and he also showed that the house was ruinous at the time of the lease and how he had cut down certain trees to repair it. And the plaintiff demurred on this evidence. And subsequently this was argued in the Common Bench. And BROOKE, J. said . . . And if the house is ruinous at the time of the lease or rotten or consumed and collapses within the term no action lies for this waste for the lessee is not bound to repair unless he agrees this, but he may cut trees and repair with them and justify this in an action of waste. But if the lessee of a park allows the park fence to decay to the point that the park is no longer enclosed an action of waste does lie in respect of a wall or a hedge that is ‘quickset’ and a fortiori if the lessee destroys it, as also if he allows the house to fall into decay.
POLLARD AND ELYOT, JJ. argued like Brooke in effect.
Citations:
[1520] [Co Litt 53a (c)]
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – Dayani v London Borough of Bromley TCC 25-Nov-1999
LA Tenant liable for permissive waste
The local authority was tenant of properties which it sub-licensed to homeless persons for three years was liable for having allowed the properties to deteriorate. It was claimed that they were liable for permissive waste as tenants for a fixed . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Landlord and Tenant
Updated: 23 November 2022; Ref: scu.196742