Rent reviews were to be at a percentage of the freehold value. Tenants improvements were to be disregarded for this purpose. The tenant sub-contracted the management of the flats to a third party who carried out substantial improvements. It was held that the improvements though not strictly carried out by the tenant, though this might … Continue reading Durley House Ltd v Cadogan and Another: ChD 27 Oct 1999
The proposed landlord had sealed the lease, but the tenant was to seal and deliver his part by a certain date. The respondent purported to complete the lease later. Held: Under the 1985 Act completion would require writing, intention and delivery. Sealing was insufficient. Section 74 of the 1925 Act did not refer to delivery. … Continue reading Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council v Torkington: CA 31 Oct 2003
The agricultural landlord sold part of his land subject to the respondent’s tenancy to the appellant. Before the transfer was registered, notices to quit were served by both the landlord and his buyer. The tenant challenged both notices in the County court, against whose finding and order that the notices were invalid, both defendants now … Continue reading Stodday Land Ltd and Another v Pye: ChD 7 Oct 2016
The claimants sought ownership by adverse possession of land. Once the paper owner had been found, they indicated a readiness to purchase their interest. The court had found that this letter contradicted an animus possidendi. The claimant had overstayed the expiration of a grazing tenancy, and been asked to leave but had not been dispossessed. … Continue reading J A Pye (Oxford) Ltd and Others v Graham and Another: HL 4 Jul 2002
The tenant purported to exercise a break clause in the lease, requiring that the notice ‘must be expressed to be given under section 24(2) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954’. Though the notice was otherwise compliant, it did not refer to the 1954 Act. The landlords now appealed against a decision that it was. … Continue reading Friends Life Ltd v Siemens Hearing Instruments Ltd: CA 3 Apr 2014
Right of Recovery of Money Paid under Mistake Kleinwort Benson had made payments to a local authority under swap agreements which were thought to be legally enforceable when made. Subsequently, a decision of the House of Lords, (Hazell v. Hammersmith and Fulham) established that such swap agreements were unlawful. Kleinwort Benson then sought restitution of … Continue reading Kleinwort Benson Ltd v Lincoln City Council etc: HL 29 Jul 1998
References: [1998] EWCA Civ 1091 Links: Bailii The lease demised property ‘from the 24th day of June 1985 for a term of twenty years’ with a break clause requiring six month’s notice. The break notice was calculated from the anniversary of the lease, not the anniversary of the term. At first instance, the lease was … Continue reading Eric Michael Garston; Alan Kilsha Toulson; Paul Denzil Nicholas and Charles Edward Cameron Gardner v Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society: CA 25 Jun 1998
