The court was asked as to the nature and effect of tenancies for life granted by fully mutual housing co-operatives and in particular how they can lawfully be brought to an end and a possession order obtained. The tenants sought a declaration of incompatibility in respect of section 80. The Co-operative was fully mutual and … Continue reading Southward Housing Co-Operative Ltd v Walker and Another: ChD 8 Jun 2015
The tenant appealed an order for possession. He had been convicted of making indecent images of children. The defendant had moved his tenancy from the property in which the offences had been convicted to a neighbouring property. The landlord said that offence had still been committed in the locality of the house. Held: The tenant’s … Continue reading Raglan Housing Association Ltd v Fairclough: CA 1 Nov 2007
The tenant appealed against an order granting possession. The tenancy, being held of a mutual housing co-operative did not have security but was in a form restricting the landlord’s right to recover possession, and the tenant resisted saying that it was worded to create a lease for life (applying the LRB case). Held: The tenant’s … Continue reading Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co-Operative Ltd: SC 9 Nov 2011
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – open land – covenant prohibiting erection of any building – application to modify to permit construction of 17 dwellinghouses and seven garages – application refused – Law of Property Act 1925 s84(1) (aa). Citations: [2011] UKUT 91 (LC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 13 September 2022; Ref: … Continue reading George Wimpey Bristol Ltd v Gloucestershire Housing Association Ltd: UTLC 14 Mar 2011
Mr Sharp was the local land registrar with statutory duty to maintain the local registry, issuing certificates in response to search requests. A clerk who had been seconded by another Council to assist him negligently issued an inaccurate certificate to a prospective purchaser of land, omitting any reference to a claim to reimbursement of compensation … Continue reading Ministry of Housing and Local Government v Sharp: CA 1970
The defendant and his wife separated when she left the flat they shared. She accepted a new tenancy of other premises. The landlord claimed possession of the flat, saying that the tenancy had ended. Held: There was no express surrender within the 1989 Act. The landlord claimed an implied surrender under the 1925 Act. That … Continue reading Ealing Family Housing Association Ltd v McKenzie: CA 10 Oct 2003
A landlord could recover under the service charge the full cost of works of repair to the outside of premises even though part of the works had been undertaken by the tenant, for which breach a waiver had been given, and even though other tenants having carried out similar works had had an allowance given … Continue reading Broomleigh Housing Association Ltd v Hughes: ChD 26 Nov 1999
The landlord claimed possession of a dwelling house let on a weekly tenancy, saying the tenant had been convicted of using the premises for an unlawful purpose. The tenant had been convicted of handling stolen goods by receiving them at the premises. He submitted that the section should be interpreted as applying only to convictions … Continue reading Schneiders and Sons Ltd v Abrahams: 1925
In a shopping centre, a tenant and its customers had acquired the right under s62 of the 1925 Act to use the concourse. The tenant was therefore entitled to an injunction to prevent the landlord further developing the concourse in such a way as to infringe those rights. Citations: [1993] EGCS 120 Statutes: Landlord and … Continue reading Pretoria Warehousing Co Ltd v Shelton: 1993
The correct approach to the ‘public interest’ requirement on an application for the modification or discharge of restrictive covenants under section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925. Citations: [2020] UKSC 45 Links: Bailii, Bailii Press Summary, Bailii Issues and Facts Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 84 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal … Continue reading Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust v Housing Solutions Ltd: SC 6 Nov 2020
A tenant’s husband came within the statute which provided for a surviving spouse to take over a tenancy on the death of the former tenant, even though a widower of the tenant was not expressly mentioned in the legislation, Salter J [1925] 1 KB 584 England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Fitzpatrick v Sterling … Continue reading Salter v Lask: 1925
Same Sex Paartner to Inherit as Family Member The claimant had lived with the original tenant in a stable and long standing homosexual relationship at the deceased’s flat. After the tenant’s death he sought a statutory tenancy as a spouse of the deceased. The Act had been extended to include as a spouse someone living … Continue reading Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd: HL 28 Oct 1999
The landlord sought leave to appeal against a refusal to award it costs associated with the service of a section 146 notice on the tenant. The tenant had covenanted to repair, and to indemnify the landlord against expenses of such notices. The tenant had claimed the benefit of having given a notice under the 1938 … Continue reading Agricullo Ltd v Yorkshire Housing Ltd: CA 16 Mar 2010
Barracks were leased for police purposes to a receiver for the Royal Ulster Constabulary. On expiry the landlord moved for possession. The tenant resisted, citing legislation enacted to protect tenants of houses from disturbance in their occupation. . .
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
S.2 of the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919 provided for the assessment of compensation in respect of land acquired compulsorily for public purposes according to certain rules. Then by s.7(1): ‘The provisions of the Act or order by which the land is authorised to be acquired, or of any Act incorporated therewith, … Continue reading Ellen Street Estates Limited v Minister for Health: CA 1934
The tenant claimed that he had been injured when as the upper portion of a window was being opened one of the cords of the window sash broke and the top part of the window slipped down and caught and injured his hand. The plaintiff admitted that the defect was latent one (of which the … Continue reading Morgan v Liverpool Corporation: CA 1927
The court looked at the question of the implied repeal of legislation. Avory J said: ‘I should certainly hold . . that no Act of Parliament can effectively provide that no future Act shall interfere with its provisions . . [I]f they [the two statutes] are inconsistent to that extent [viz. so that they cannot … Continue reading Vauxhall Estates Ltd v Liverpool Corporation: KBD 1932
The landlord served a section 146 notice and the tenant served a counternotice under the 1938 Act. The landlord sought leave to forfeit the lease. Held: Leave was given under ground (e) to forfeit the lease of a public house which had closed for business in 1998 and then had been vandalised and finally destroyed … Continue reading Landmaster Properties Limited v Thackeray Property Services Limited: 2003
Even an unlawful sub-tenancy can have protection under Part II of the 1954 Act. The court described as fallacious the submission that section 74(1) does not extend to or answer the question whether the document has ever been delivered, saying: ‘The section says that the document is to be deemed to have been duly executed … Continue reading D’Silva v Lister House Development Ltd: 1970
The Borough’s tenant had died. His wife and daughter had lived with him, but the mother not for long enough to succeed to his tenancy. The daughter (aged thirteen) claimed to have done so having lived with him for three years. Held: The 1985 Act did not limit its effects to adults. A minor may … Continue reading Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames v Prince and Another: CA 2 Dec 1998
Objecting neighbours appealed against a decision allowing a variation of a restrictive covenant to allow the owner to convert a dwellinghouse into two self-contained apartments. Held: The appeal failed. The power in the 1985 Act to vary a covenant must be used judicially, and ‘the statute does not create any presumption in favour of the … Continue reading Lawntown Ltd v Camenzuli and Another: CA 10 Oct 2007
The respondent mortgagee had obtained an order for possession against the mortgagor freeholder, referred to in the judgment as ‘the Chief’, who had, prior to the mortgage, granted a tenancy to the appellant. Held: The landlord’s retention of a right to use the kitchen made the tenancy a restricted tenancy even though no use was … Continue reading The Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Ubah: CA 21 Mar 1996
The parties disputed the liability on lessees to contribute to a service charge for maintenance of common parts of the building. The six tenants covenanted to pay a proper proportion of the landlord’s costs of meeting his repair obligations. The landlord executed repair after a water leak. Two tenants argued that the cost was too … Continue reading 69 Marina, St Leonards-On-Sea, Freeholders of v Oram and Another: CA 8 Nov 2011
The parties, on divorcing had a greed, under court order that W should obtain the release of H from his covenants under the mortgage of the family home. She had been unable to do so, and sought that order to be varied to allow postponement of her performance until the youngest child attained 18. H … Continue reading Birch v Birch: SC 26 Jul 2017
The University wanted to sell land for development free of restrictive covenants. It had previously been in the ownership of both the servient and dominant land in respect of a restrictive covenant. The Borough contended that the restrictive covenants remained in effect. The University sought their discharge. Held: The Borough had owned the dominant and … Continue reading University of East London Higher Education Corporation v London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and others: ChD 9 Dec 2004
Tenants of a block of flats sought enfranchisement. The landlord said the notices were defective in that the office copies supplied did not show the entitlement of the persons giving notice at the relevant time. Held: The scheme for collective enfranchisement must apply with equal rigour to unregistered and registered land. The consequence of non-compliance … Continue reading Raymere Ltd v Belle Vue Gardens Ltd: CA 17 Jul 2003
The appellant, Mr Lewis had been granted a tenancy by the appellant on its standard terms. Notice was given to terminate the tenancy. The tenant appealed against a ruling that he had not acquired a tenaancy for 90 years under the 1925 Act. Held: The appeal failed.Nourse LJ analysed the section: ‘First, the word ‘determinable’ … Continue reading Bass Holdings Ltd v Lewis: CA 29 Jul 1986
Forcelux and Mr Binnie were the landlord and tenant of a flat in Lincoln. Under the lease, the tenant was obliged to pay ground rent and other charges. The lease contained a forfeiture provision in the event of non-payment of rent or charges. Mr Binnie fell into arrears and Forcelux obtained a default judgment against … Continue reading Forcelux Ltd v Binnie: CA 21 Oct 2009
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT … discharge ( school site – restrictions on form of housing on redevelopment – held obsolete in part – whether maintenance of restrictions contrary to public interest – whether restrictions securing practical benefits of substantial value or advantage – whether injury – compensation of pounds 7,500 awarded in respect of one objection – … Continue reading Havering College of Further and Higher Education: LT 6 Oct 2006
The claimant contracted to buy two apartments from the defendant. The contract purported to exclude section 49. Judges: Floyd J Citations: [2008] EWHC 456 (Ch), Times 04-Apr-2008, [2008] 12 EG 96, [2009] 1 WLR 1089, [2008] 3 All ER 762, [2008] 19 EG 206, [2008] 2 EGLR 65 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act … Continue reading Aribisala v St James’ Homes (Grosvenor Dock) Ltd: ChD 14 Mar 2008
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – proposed development of two pairs of semi-detached houses – affordable housing for local needs – practical benefits of substantial value or advantage – privacy – peace and tranquillity – outlook – approach – compensation -application granted – Law of Property Act 1925, ss84(1)(aa) and (c). Citations: [2009] EWLands LP … Continue reading Land On the North West Side Of Ashes Lane, Re: LT 10 Mar 2009
LT Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s.18 – Law of Property Act 1925 s.146 – Housing Act 1996 ss.81 and 82 – jurisdiction of LVT — covenant to pay costs in preparing notices under s.146 – Meaning of ‘service charge’ — landlord’s costs of management — Forcelux v Sweetman not followed Citations: [2004] EWLands LRX … Continue reading Forcelux Ltd, Re an Appeal Against A Decision of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal: LT 20 Jan 2004
The respondent argued that the power given to the Lands Tribunal by the section, did not extend to a power to vary a positive covenant. Held: It could not be right to construe the obligation in the lease as a positive obligation rendering the tenant liable to finding himself in breach of covenant in circumstances … Continue reading Blumenthal v The Church Commissioners for England: CA 13 Dec 2004
The defendant entered into an agreement for lease, incurring substantial obligations. When it could not meet them it sought assistance from the claimant, who now claimed to have an interest in a joint venture. The draft documentation originally suggested a loan, but then changed. Disagreements persisted after completion. Held: There was insufficient agreement to constitute … Continue reading Kilcarne Holdings Ltd v Targetfollow (Birmingham) Ltd, Targetfollow Group Ltd: ChD 9 Nov 2004
The court had made a joint residence order, but the housing department offered the wife only a one bedroomed department which would not allow her children to stay with her. Held: The local authority decision had to be set aside. In future when making such orders the exact for of residence required might be set … Continue reading Bibi, Regina (on the Application Of) v London Borough of Camden: Admn 11 Oct 2004
F granted T a lease reserving the right to deal with all rights in the property as F wanted. T used the back court and gate for business deliveries but then F granted the freehold to the plaintiff, who in turn denied all right to use the back court or gate as T had been … Continue reading Green v Ashco Horticulturist Ltd: 1966
The plaintiff acquired land on which 27 chalets were erected. They served notice to quit so that the site could be developed. The defendants argued that they had residential tenancies with protection under the Rent Act 1977. Held: The tenants’ appeals succeeded. A built structure becomes part of the land and itself real property, according … Continue reading Elitestone Ltd v Morris and Another: HL 1 May 1997
When setting out to establish that a piece of land has become a village green with rights of common, the tests are similar to those used in the law of prescription and adverse possession. Accordingly, there is no need to establish a belief in those using the rights asserted beyond that the use is as … Continue reading Regina v Oxfordshire County Council and Another, Ex Parte Sunningwell Parish Council: HL 25 Jun 1999
In a contract the Defendants promised certain properties to whoever first arrived with the requisite draft contract and bankers drafts. The Plaintiffs did. Held: They failed in their claim. It involved a unilateral contract and the Defendants’ oral promises was expressly made subject to contract, but the Court decided the dispute by reference to the … Continue reading Daulia Ltd v Four Millbank Nominees Ltd: 1978
The appellant’s land was to be taken under compulsory purchase by the Council who wished to use it to assist Tesco in the construction of a new supermarket. Tesco promised to help fund restoration of a local listed building. Sainsbury objected an now appealed against the Court of Appeal’s overturning of the orer in its … Continue reading Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v Wolverhampton City Council and Another: SC 12 May 2010
Administrative Discretion to be Used Reasonably The applicant challenged the manner of decision making as to the conditions which had been attached to its licence to open the cinema on Sundays. It had not been allowed to admit children under 15 years of age. The statute provided no appeal procedure, and the applicant sought a … Continue reading Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation: CA 10 Nov 1947
The wife claimed that the husband had forged the mortgage document. The Society said that she had allowed them to believe that she had consented to the charge. Slade LJ set out the principle: ‘in a case where A, the holder of the legal estate in land, has executed a mortgage of the land in … Continue reading Skipton Building Society v Clayton: CA 1993
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003
There was a covenant that the premises should not ‘be used for any art trade or business or profession whatsoever . . ‘ but should be ‘kept and used only for the purposes of the Grosvenor Housing Scheme as dwellings for the working classes . . ‘. Held: A term in a restrictive covenant was … Continue reading Westminster City Council v Duke of Westminster: ChD 1991
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – Discharge – pub on housing estate – restriction on use to hotelier and licensed victualler – objectors seeking to keep pub open – possibility of pub closing – held that the restriction does not secure practical benefits to the objectors – Tribunal’s discretion to modify – application allowed – Law of Property … Continue reading James Hall and Company (Property) Ltd v Maughan and Others, Re The Aclet (Restrictive Covenants): UTLC 8 Jun 2017
Appeal from grant of permission for modification of restrictive covenants on land. Judges: Underhill, Sales, Moylan LJJ Citations: [2018] EWCA Civ 2679, [2019] JPL 471, [2019] 2 P and CR 2, [2019] 1 WLR 2729, [2018] WLR(D) 733 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 84 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal … Continue reading The Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust v Millgate Developments Ltd and Others: CA 28 Nov 2018
The tenant had a five year flexible tenancy. The landlord sought to terminate the tenancy for antisocial behaviour. She responded that the agreement included no express provision for re-entry or forfeiture. The Council landlord now appealed a finding that it did not have the right of re-entry. Held: The Council’s appeal succeeded in part. Citations: … Continue reading Croydon London Borough Council v Kalonga: SC 9 Mar 2022
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – Modification – land in green belt subject to restriction to be used only for parking vehicles – 13 affordable housing units built prior to application and in the face of objections – adjoining land with benefit of covenant being developed as children’s hospice – whether modification appropriate – practical benefits of … Continue reading Millgate Developments Ltd and Another v Smith and Another, Re: Exchange House, Woodlands Park Avenue, Maidenhead: UTLC 21 Nov 2016
The claimant sought to challenge a decision to allow the development of local allotments for housing. Land DBE J [2016] EWHC 2736 (Admin) Bailii Allotments Act 1925 England and Wales Land, Local Government Updated: 24 January 2022; Ref: scu.570785
UTLC LANDLORD AND TENANT – administration charges – covenant to pay costs of proceedings – whether costs incurred ‘in or in contemplation of’ proceedings under s.146, Law of Property Act 1925 – Freeholders of 69 Marina v Oram considered – s.81, Housing Act 1996 – ss.167-169, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 – appeal allowed … Continue reading Barrett v Robinson: UTLC 29 Jul 2014
Minor Irregularity in Break Notice Not Fatal Leases contained clauses allowing the tenant to break the lease by serving not less than six months notice to expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of the term of the lease. The tenant gave notice to determine the leases on 12th January 1995, although the … Continue reading Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Assurance: HL 21 May 1997
The claimant challenged the Order as regards the prescription of the morning-after pill, asserting that the pill would cause miscarriages, and that therefore the use would be an offence under the 1861 Act. Held: ‘SPUC’s case is that any interference with a fertilised egg, if it leads to the loss of the egg, involves the … Continue reading Regina (Smeaton) v Secretary of State for Health and Others: Admn 18 Apr 2002
The claimant sought an injunction to prevent the respondent Trades Union calling on its members to boycott mail to South Africa. The respondents challenged the ability of the court to make such an order. Held: The wide wording of the statute did not mean that the courts had, in effect, limitless powers to grant interlocutory … Continue reading Gouriet v Union of Post Office Workers: HL 26 Jul 1977
The parties had been a lesbian couple each with children. Each now was in a new relationship. One registered the two daughters of the other at a school now local to her but without first consulting the birth mother, who then applied for residence and or contact. The other mother took the children secretly to … Continue reading In Re G (A Minor) (Interim Care Order: Residential Assessment); G (Children), In Re (Residence: Same Sex Partner): HL 26 Jul 2006
The authority was required to provide housing to the minor applicant, but she was too young to hold a legal estate. An equitable lease had been created, and she now appealed against an order for possession having broken the terms of the agreement, saying that the authority was in practice trustee for the tenant, and … Continue reading Alexander-David v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham: CA 1 Apr 2009
The applicant had held a joint tenancy of the respondent. His partner gave notice and left, and the property was taken into possession. The claimant claimed restoration of his tenancy saying the order did not respect his right to a private life and home. Held: Article 8 does not, in terms, give a right to … Continue reading London Borough of Harrow v Qazi: HL 31 Jul 2003
The court was asked whether the 1977 Act required a local authorty to obtain a court order before taking possession of interim accommodation it provided to an apparently homeless person while it investigated whether it owed him or her a duty under Part VII of the 1996 Act, and (ii) whether a public authority, which … Continue reading ZH and CN, Regina (on The Applications of) v London Boroughs of Newham and Lewisham: SC 12 Nov 2014
Presumption of dedication dates back. The claimant tripped over a tree root raising a path in the park. The court was now asked whether the pathway through a public park, but which was not a public right of way, was maintainable at public expense as a highway governed by the 1980 Act. Held: As to … Continue reading Barlow v Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 1 Jun 2020
The House was asked whether a warehouse used to store purchases made by the company from its parent company in Austria, was an ‘industrial building or structure’. It was agreed that the facility was used for the storage of materials for use in later manufacture, but the Revenue said that no part of the company’s … Continue reading Maco Door and Window Hardware (UK) Ltd v Revenue and Customs: HL 30 Jul 2008
The court was asked ‘whether and if so how an easement arising informally and not protected by any entry at the Land Registry can be effective against a purchaser of the land over which the easement would be exercised.’ The parties respectively owned the ground and first and second floors of a bulding. Access to … Continue reading Chaudhary v Yavuz: CA 22 Nov 2011
The parties were not married, but had brought together their resources to purchase a home in the name of one of them. Nothing had been said about the respective shares on which the property was to be held. Held: The shares were to be assessed as at the time of the sale, not the time … Continue reading Oxley v Hiscock: CA 6 May 2004
The parties signed a memorandum of agreement to let a strip of land from 1930 until determined as provided, but the only provision was that the lease would continue until the land was needed for road widening and two months’ notice was given. The land was never used for road widening and notice to terminate … Continue reading Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v London Residuary Body and Others: HL 16 Jul 1992
The claimants had taken up occupation of a farm under an informal arrangement which they now said amounted to a tenancy for ther lives. The freeholder’s, personal representatives of the original grantors, appealed against a declaration accordingly. The respondents said that they had spent over andpound;30,000 in repairs because of the agreement. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Hardy and Another v Haselden and Others: CA 29 Nov 2011
The defendant blocked the line of a sewer. The claimant alleged that it had an easement and sought the cost of building the alternative pipe. The question to be answered was ‘Where an easement is granted by implication on the sale of a property, . .
Before the parties called evidence, and having read the papers, the court considered that there was no real defence shown, and invited submissions. Negotiations for the grant of a tenancy had been terminated by the sudden illness of the proposed . .
Various leases of properties had been granted. Legal and General occupied the property under an arrangement under which they paid no rent. The landlord sought possession, saying that the agreements were licences not tenancies because of the absence . .
The council set out to acquire two plots of land for development for housing. After the process had begun, it was decided that some of the land should be uised for educational purposes. A Land Charge had been served but the matter not completed. A . .
The landlords’ managing agents learned that the tenant had been convicted of keeping a brothel at the premises and served a section 146 notice intending to forfeit the tenancy. He told his staff and instructed them not to demand or accept rent. But . .
The claimants had been the registered proprietors of land, they lost it through the adverse possession of former tenants holding over. They claimed that the law had dispossessed them of their lawful rights.
Held: The cumulative effect of the . .
