A covenant prevented new building other than for a garage. The owner proposed a three-car garage extension, but with a play-room above, for the applicant’s own use. The relevant property of the objector was not her own house, but consisted of a driveway, and a plot of land on which she hoped to be allowed … Continue reading Skupinski, Re Law of Property Act 1925: LT 30 Nov 2004
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
The land-owners applied for a variation of a restrictive covenant to allow them to put a second house on their plot. They had bought out the right of the original builder, but a neighbour also had the benefit of the covenant. They now appealed the nil compensation awarded. Held: ‘it is perhaps difficult, as a … Continue reading Winter and Another v Traditional and Contemporary Contracts Ltd: CA 7 Nov 2007
Restrictive Covenants – Discharge – Proposed Use of Field As A Farm Strip for Private Aircraft in close proximity to Sandown Airport – planning permission for construction of agricultural barn – whether to be used to hangar applicant’s aircraft – possibility of future unspecified use of application land – relevance of GPDO – Law of … Continue reading Miller v Subhani: UTLC 30 Mar 2020
Beneficial equitable interests in land were overreached by a mortgage despite no the fact that no capital was actually advanced under the charge. Citations: Gazette 13-Nov-1996, Times 07-Nov-1996, [1996] EWCA Civ 835 Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 2(1)(ii) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Williams and Glyn’s Bank Ltd v Boland CA 1979 … Continue reading State of India v Sood and Others: CA 30 Oct 1996
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – dwellinghouse – restrictions preventing erection of more than one dwellinghouse or bungalow – application to modify to permit two or three dwellinghouses – whether restrictions obsolete – whether proposed user reasonable – whether restrictions secured practical benefits of substantial value or advantage – whether discharge would cause injury – … Continue reading Fisher, Re Dayspring: LT 30 Jun 2008
The court considered the construction of a restrictive covenant after the disappearance of the covenantee. The covenant required no additional building without the consent of the covenantee, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The term ‘vendor’ had been defined without including her successors in title. Held: The court considered the construction of the clause … Continue reading Margerison v Bates and Another: ChD 30 May 2008
The tenant had a lease of business premises. The premises were damaged in a terrorist attack, and the landlord served a notice terminating the lease. The lease gave the right to the landlord to determine the lease if the property was incapable of occupation for more than six months. It came to be accepted that … Continue reading Blunden v Frogmore Investments Ltd: CA 30 Apr 2002
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – modification – 1980s office building let on long lease – covenants restricting use to offices only and controlling terms of underletting – modification sought to permit conversion to residential use and letting on assured shorthold tenancies – Law of Property Act 1925 section 84(1) (aa) and (c) – modification of user covenant … Continue reading Shaviram Normandy Limited v Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council: UTLC 30 Aug 2019
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – restriction to dwellinghouses only on at least one quarter of an acre each – application to amend this limitation so as to permit use as residential home for the elderly – grounds (a) and (aa) – whether a covenant can be deemed partly obsolete – whether actual restriction partly obsolete – whether … Continue reading Azfar, Re: LT 30 Jul 2001
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – building scheme – proposed bungalow – reasonable user – public interest – whether practical benefits secured – substantiality – effect of scheme – application refused – Law of Property Act 1925, s84(1)(aa), (b) and (c) Judges: Trott FRICS Citations: [2006] EWLands LP – 59 – 2004 Links: Bailii Statutes: … Continue reading Dobbin: LT 30 Aug 2006
The applicant challenged the exercise of a power of sale under a mortgage, saying that the mortgagee’s purposes included purposes not those under the mortgage. The parties had been involved in an attempted development of a penthouse. Held: The power was validly exercised. Provided the recovery of the sums for which the security was given … Continue reading Meretz Investments Nv and Another v ACP Ltd and others: ChD 30 Jan 2006
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – discharge – restriction limiting development on plot to one dwellinghouse – application to amend to permit dormer bungalow in rear garden – no interference with objectors’ amenities – change in character of estate as some areas developed to greater density – many covenants on estate no longer enforceable – … Continue reading Felton Homes Ltd, Re Law of Property Act 1925: LT 2 Dec 2004
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – restriction to single dwellinghouse and against use causing nuisance, etc to owner of adjoining properties – extent of neighbourhood – whether covenant obsolete – application refused – Law of Property Act 1925, s84(1)(a) Judges: N J Rose FRICS Citations: [2003] EWLands LP – 45 – 2002 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of … Continue reading Harrold and Another, Re Law of Property Act 1925: LT 27 Oct 2003
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – restriction requiring paddock to remain undeveloped – application to discharge or modify this restriction so as to permit development with five houses – whether use of restriction as a bargaining tool relevant to para (a) – whether practical benefits of substantial value or advantage secured by restriction – application for modification … Continue reading Broomhead and Others, Re Law of Property Act 1925: LT 13 Mar 2003
Tenants occupied land next to land which was to be developed after compulsory acquisition. The tenants and the landlords asserted a right of light over the land, and sought an injunction to prevent the development. The developer denied that any right of light had been acquired. The sky contour diagrams projected that the reductions in … Continue reading Midtown Ltd v City of London Real Property Company Ltd: ChD 20 Jan 2005
Appeal from refusal to vary restrictive covenant. Judges: Lord Justice Laws Citations: [2007] EWCA Civ 1007 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 84 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 28 June 2022; Ref: scu.470483
House owners had used vehicular access across a common to get to their houses for many years. The commons owner required them to purchase the right, and they replied that they had acquired the right by lost modern grant and/or by prescription. Held: The use of a right of way over a common by vehicles … Continue reading Roland Brandwood and others v Bakewell Management Ltd: CA 30 Jan 2003
A court order can properly be recalled to correct an error before it had been perfected. This appeal was rejected also as attempt to re-litigate the interpretation of a section in the appeal judgement. Citations: Gazette 07-May-1998, [1998] EWCA Civ 746 Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 62 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also … Continue reading Hillman and Hillman v Rogers and Rogers: CA 30 Apr 1998
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – no objections – restriction prohibiting alterations etc without vendor’s approval of plans – whether obsolete – modification sought prohibiting alterations etc not in keeping with neighbourhood – held inappropriate to impose restriction that would present problems with implementation – application refused – Law of Property Act 1925 s 84(1) … Continue reading Flowers, Re 30 Burges Road: UTLC 2 Feb 2010
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
A ‘subject to contract’ document might be evidence of an antecedent or oral contract and satisfy section 40 of the Law of Property Act 1925 if the stipulation was later waived. A memorandum or note must, if it is to be effective, not only state the terms of the contract but also contain an acknowledgement … Continue reading Law v Jones: 1974
Police Obligations to Witnesses is Limited A prosecution witness was murdered by the accused shortly before his trial. The parents of the deceased alleged that the failure of the police to protect their son was a breach of article 2. Held: The House was asked ‘If the police are alerted to a threat that D … Continue reading Hertfordshire Police v Van Colle; Smith v Chief Constable of Sussex Police: HL 30 Jul 2008
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – building scheme – land originally designated a close to which all residents would have access – prohibition on building and uses other than garden or recreation ground for residents – land sold in 1952 and since used as private garden with no access for residents – history of objections … Continue reading Surana, Re Land Adjoining 21 Icklingham Road: UTLC 30 Aug 2016
Despite its entanglement with a right of entry intended to procure its payment, a separate personal obligation to pay instalments of the sum agreed as the premium for a lease remained merely a personal obligation and that a call for the payment by instalments was not a claim or demand in, to, or on the … Continue reading Hill v Booth: CA 1930
The court reviewed the conflicting authorities with regard to the creation of trusts and held that the overwhelming preponderance of authority was that, in the absence of any claim for rectification or rescission, provisions in a conveyance declaring that the plaintiff and the defendant were to hold the proceeds of sale of the property ‘upon … Continue reading Goodman v Gallant: CA 30 Oct 1985
The parties entered into a written contract for the sale of land which, in error, provided for completion on a Sunday. The parties varied the date to the Friday but did not execute a new contract which would comply with section 2(1) of the 1989 Act. Time was not initially of the essence of the … Continue reading McCausland and Another v Duncan Lawrie Ltd and Another: CA 18 Jun 1996
A colliery manager asked for police protection for his colliery during a strike. He wanted police officers to be billeted on the premises. The senior police officer for the area was willing to provide protection by a mobile force, but he refused to . .
To defeat a defence of adverse possession, the plaintiff must succeed in an action which itself had been commenced within the twelve year period. A squatter does not succeed to the title that he has disturbed: by sufficiently long adverse possession . .
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The court discussed the duty of trustees to sell in the absence of unanimity: ‘The trust for sale will prevail, unless all three trustees agree in exercising the power to postpone.’ Judges: Simonds, J Citations: [1943] Ch 302 Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 30 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Jones v … Continue reading In re Mayo: ChD 1943
A property had been bought in the husband’s name. The wife made financial contributions to repayment of the charge, and thereby acquired an interest in it. The property was later charged by the paper owner to the claimant, who sought possession under that charge. The wife resisted. Held: The discretion of court to order the … Continue reading Bank of Baroda v Dhillon and Dhillon: CA 17 Oct 1997
Mrs Moss inherited the former matrimonial home. Her daughter (L) suggested that she transfer it into their joint names to ease its transfer on her mother’s death. It was agreed the house would never be sold during Mrs Moss’s lifetime. L borrowed andpound;30,000 using the house as security and forged her mother’s signature on the … Continue reading Abbey National plc v Moss and Others: CA 1994
Trustees in bankruptcy of bankrupt husbands successfully appealed for the removal of provisos delaying the operation of orders for sale made under s30 in respect of each husband’s matrimonial home for the benefit of that husband’s wife who had been declared by the judge at first instance to be an equal owner with the husband … Continue reading Re Citro, Lloyds Bank plc v Byrne and Byrne, Abbey National plc v Moss and others and Barclays Bank plc v Hendricks: CA 1991
The claimant had an equitable charge over the property, and sought a possession order after failures to keep up repayments. The order was sought under the Act, and the claimants asserted that the conditions for the grant of possession were unchanged. Held: Parliament had clearly intended a change. The interests of a chargee ranked alongside … Continue reading Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Shaire and Another: ChD 25 Feb 2000
The wife was co-owner of the family home. Her husband owed money to the bank. He separated from his wife and left the matrimonial home moving to another house owned by the wife. The bank obtained a charging order absolute against the husband’s interest in the matrimonial home and then sought an order under section … Continue reading Barclays Bank Plc v Hendricks and Another: ChD 3 Nov 1995
The test under the section was whether it was inequitable to make the order for sale where one of the joint beneficiaries, who in that case were ex-husband and wife, wished to realise their investment in the property. Held: Referring to the statement of principle in in re Mayo, described as ‘a simple uncomplicated case … Continue reading Jones v Challenger: CA 1960
A property adjustment order cannot be made against a bankrupt former spouse because the property of the bankrupt vests in the trustee in bankruptcy against whom an order under section 24 cannot be made. It was highly unlikely that postponement of payment of the debts would cause any great hardship to any of the creditors. … Continue reading In re Holliday: CA 1981
A husband held the matrimonial home on trust for sale for himself and his wife in equal shares. The couple lived in the house. The husband and another man were in business with through a limited company, and guaranteed the its debts to the plaintiff, who obtained a default judgment against the husband under the … Continue reading Lloyds Bank plc v Byrne and Byrne: 1993
A husband resisted his former wife’s claim under the section against his brother, her brother-in-law. He asserted, with a view to deceiving both his wife and the Court, that his brother, who held the fee of a house, did not hold any share beneficially for the husband but held entirely for himself, the brother. That … Continue reading Singh v Singh: 1985
The LAB was entitled to register the statutory charge over property which had been defended under a legal aid certificate against an application under the section. Citations: Times 24-May-1994 Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 30 Legal Aid Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.84582
The husband had forged his wife’s signature on the loan application and on the charge of the house held by himself and his wife as joint tenants. He had left the country, and the plaintiff sought to enforce the charge, and ex parte obtained an order nisi charging the husband’s interest in the house. The … Continue reading First National Securities v Hegerty: CA 1984
The plaintiffs had paid deposits for apartments which were to be built. After the developer became insolvent the plaintiffs sought recovery of the deposits, saying they had a lien which preceded the claims of chargees. Held: The one appeal failed and another succeeded. ‘the circumstances in which a purchaser’s lien will arise are not limited … Continue reading Chattey and Another v Farndale Holdings Inc and others: CA 11 Oct 1996
The court was asked to pierce the veil of incorporation of a company in the course of ancillary relief proceedings in a divorce. H had failed to co-operate with the court. After a comprehensive review of all the authorities, Munby J said: ‘The common theme running through all the cases in which the court has … Continue reading Ben Hashem v Ali Shayif and Another: FD 22 Sep 2008
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
In about 1930 a house, no 16, one of two adjacent houses in common ownership was rebuilt. One wall was built close against the adjacent no. 14. Thirty years later no. 14 was demolished by its later owner, the Defendant, leaving the adjoining wall of no.16, which was rough and unpointed, exposed to the weather. … Continue reading Phipps v Pears and others: CA 10 Mar 1964
The parties, a married couple disputed the shares in which the matrimonial home, formerly held by them as joint tenants would be held after severance o that joint tenancy. Held: The wife was entitled to a half share in the property.Russell LJ considered that the court had no jurisdiction under section 17 of the 1882 … Continue reading Bedson v Bedson: CA 1965
The defendants had purchased their property from the local authority with the support of a loan from the claimants. The defendants fell into arrears but now sought to resist possession on the basis that the claimant, in securitising their portfolio of mortgages, had lost the right to possession. The assignments had been left uncompleted. Held: … Continue reading Paragon Finance Plc v Pender and Another: CA 27 Jun 2005
The plaintiffs claimed large-scale copyright infringement, and obtained Anton Pillar orders. The House considered the existence of the privilege against self-incrimination where the Anton Piller type of order has been made. The Court of Appeal had decided that the court should abstain from making an order ex parte requiring immediate answers to interrogatories or disclosure … Continue reading Rank Film Distributors v Video Information Centre: HL 1 Mar 1981
The home owners requested the setting aside of the sale of their house after a re-possession, alleging impropriety, and that it had been sold at an undervalue. The respondent society had a rule that properties taken into possession could not be purchased by its own employees. The property had been purchased in breach of that … Continue reading Deakin, JDeakin v Corbett, Corbett, Halifax Plc: CA 18 Dec 2002
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – dwellinghouse – covenant not to alter property without covenantee’s written consent – application to modify so as to permit significant extension and remodelling of existing bungalow – effect upon visual amenity – practical benefits of substantial value or advantage – injury – Law of Property Act 1925 section 84, … Continue reading Wild and Another, Re Golf Links Road: UTLC 5 Nov 2012
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – covenant restricting development to one dwelling per plot – proposal to erect additional house within grounds of existing property – objectors’ entitlement to benefit – whether Building Scheme – whether proposed use of land reasonable – whether practical benefits of substantial value or advantage secured by the restriction – … Continue reading Perkins and Another, Re 87 Peplins Way: UTLC 25 Oct 2012
The trust was created in 1948, and provided gifts over, which had now failed. The court considered the construction of the term ‘stautory next of kin’. The possible beneficiaries claimed through being adopted, arguing that at the date of the last beneficary’s death, all impediments to inheritance by adopted children had been removed by statute. … Continue reading Re Erskine 1948 Trust: ChD 29 Mar 2012
The tenant had broken a negative covenant against making alterations, namely not to change the exterior sign and not to alter the premises without consent. The landlord sought to forfeit the lease. Held: The breach of the covenant was remediable if the harm caused can be rectified. The breach was a continuing one. Possession was … Continue reading Savva and Another v Houssein: CA 24 Apr 1996
The owner of a common appealed a finding that the neighbouring land owner had acquired by prescription a right of way across the common to use a track for commercial vehicles (buses) to get to the property (the bus depot). Held: An easement cannot become a right where the use of the route is illegal … Continue reading Hanning and Others v Top Deck Travel Group Ltd: CA 9 Jun 1993
Leeds County Court – Claim that a proposed bulding of additional premises within a property boundary would amount to an infringement of a restrictive covenant against causing a nuisance or annoyance to a neighbour. Held: The building would be in breach of the covenant against causing annoyance. Judges: Behrens HHJ Citations: [2015] EW Misc B28 … Continue reading Tupholme and Others v Firth: Misc 17 Sep 2015
The claimant advanced funds to the respondent for him to invest in a bank of which the claimant had insider knowledge. In fact the defendant did not invest the funds, the knowledge was incorrect. The defendant however did not return the sums advanced, saying he need not return it because the contract was for an … Continue reading Patel v Mirza: SC 20 Jul 2016
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
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 defendant had charged her home to the claimant and fallen into arrears. There was a sub-charge executed on the same day in favour of the Bank of Scotland (BOS) under which the claimant agreed to repay to BOS the amount it owed to them. Held: The sub-charge did not operate to transfer to BOS … Continue reading Credit and Mercantile Plc v Feliciangela Marks: CA 14 May 2004
G executed a deed surrendering his life interest in a trust fund in order to vest the property in his two children: the deed did not have that effect because of two errors (one of which was ignoring the fact that his life interest was subject to protective trusts), with the result that the fund … Continue reading Gibbon v Mitchell: ChD 1990
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 parties contracted for the sale and purchase of land with vacant possession. It was subject to a lease which the seller said had been surrendered, and it refused to accept any requisitions of objections. After exchange it appeared that the tenant was bankrupt, and the surrender ineffective in law. Upon discovery of this the … Continue reading Area Estates Ltd v Weir: CA 20 Jul 2010
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS -discharge or modification -dwellinghouse -covenants not to erect more than one dwellinghouse set back to building line -application to discharge or modify to permit two additional dwellinghouses -one objection -application refused -Law of Property Act 1925, S84(1)(a), (aa), (c). Citations: [2009] UKUT 131 (LC) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: … Continue reading Pryor, Re 54 Nelmes Way: UTLC 15 Jul 2009
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – application under section 84 of Law of Property Act 1925 as amended – whether a building scheme existed so as to entitle certain persons to object to the proposed modification or discharge. Citations: [2009] EWLands LP – 18 – 2008 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 84 Land Updated: … Continue reading Clarke v Murphy and Others: LT 12 May 2009
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – discharge or modification – former chalet bungalow and clinic site – restriction to private dwelling house or professional use by medical practitioner or solicitor – proposal to erect building for worship and religious instruction – whether restriction obsolete – whether maintenance of restriction contrary to public interest – whether restriction securing practical … Continue reading Mahavir Foundation Ltd: LT 7 Dec 2006
Application for declarations relating to the enforceability, meaning and effect of a restrictive covenant. Held: The court stressed the dangers of allowing an overly commercial construction to override the clear language of the instrument. Citations: [2010] EWHC 3369 (Ch), [2011] 17 EG 72 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Churchill v Temple and Others: ChD 22 Oct 2010
The claimants appealed an order finding that the defendant had acquired their land by adverse possession. They said that the defendant had asserted in defence to possession proceedings that they were tenants, and that this contradicted an intent to deny the claimants’ title. Held: The appeal failed. A finding by the ECHR that a particular … Continue reading Ofulue and Another v Bossert: CA 29 Jan 2008
The tribunal considered case concerned 5.1 ha of land with an assumption of planning permission for industrial development under Planning legislation. There was only one possible access over adjoining land in different ownership. Held: When determining the value of land compulsorily acquired by the Corporation, the Tribunal allowed for the fact that the landowner would … Continue reading Stokes v Cambridge Corporation: LT 1961
Property was charged in 1973. The principal was be repayable in 1988 with interest. There was no provision by which a default made the power of sale exercisable or the advance repayable. When the borrower defaulted, the mortgagee had to apply to court for an order for sale in lieu of foreclosure under section 91(2) … Continue reading Twentieth Century Banking Corporation Ltd v Wilkinson: ChD 1977
An equity arising from a proprietary estoppel is not an ‘equitable interest’ capable of being overreached pursuant to section 2 of the Law of Property Act 1925. Judges: Robert Walker LJ Citations: [1999] EWCA Civ 3042, (1999) 80 P and CR 256 Links: Bailii Statutes: Law of Property Act 1925 2 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd v Sabherwal: CA 17 Dec 1999
The appellants challenged the removal of a restrictive covenant on a neighbour’s house restricting further building on the land to allow further house in the garden. It was in a small close of houses all erected, and the covenant imposed, in 1952. It was in effect part of a building scheme. The tribunal had found … Continue reading Shephard and others v Turner and Another: CA 23 Jan 2006
The tenant had served a notice to review the rent. The tenent delivered a counter notice personally be posting it through the letter box. The lease provided that the notice was to be served at the last known business address of the landlord. The landlord had informed the tenant’s solicitor, but not the tenant direct … Continue reading Arundel Corporation v Khokher: CA 9 Dec 2003
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – modification – restrictions limiting development on plot to one dwellinghouse and preventing building on specified part of site – application to amend to permit house in part of rear garden and to carry out building works on prohibited area – whether injury to objectors – Law of Property Act 1925, s.84(1) … Continue reading Turner and Another, Re: LT 7 Mar 2005
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – restrictions to single dwellinghouse and against developing part of site – application to discharge or modify the restrictions so as to permit development with additional house, part of which would encroach onto the prohibited area – whether practical benefits of substantial value or advantage secured by restrictions – whether any injury … Continue reading Joyce and Another, Re: LT 8 Dec 2003
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
LT Restrictive Covenants – Entitlement to benefit – Building Scheme – No evidence of notice of common understanding — Exclusion of benefit of covenant in later conveyances – Effect on subsequent purchasers – Law of Property Act 1925 S.78 – Costs on Preliminary issue. Citations: [2004] EWLands LP – 8 – 2003 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Wealden Land Ltd v Naylor-Perrott and others: LT 28 Jan 2004
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – restriction to one dwelling house per plot – application to amend this limitation to permit erection on one plot of detached and two semi-detached houses, possibly as part of a larger development – not all proposed development site owned by applicant – whether proposed use reasonable – whether restriction obsolete – whether … Continue reading Hamden Homes Ltd, Re: LT 12 Dec 2001
LT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – restriction to single storey dwelling – application to remove this limitation – proposed house – applicant the original covenantor – effect of possible refusal of planning permission for bungalow – changes in neighbourhood and property – benefits secured to objector – public interest – whether agreement to modify – injury to … Continue reading In re Farrow: LT 10 May 2001
The claimant had obtained judgment against customers of the defendant, and then freezing orders for the accounts. The defendants inadvertently or negligently allowed sums to be transferred from the accounts. The claimants sought repayment by the bank. Held: The bank was liable. ‘a duty ought to be imposed on the Bank, towards claimants who have … Continue reading Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: CA 22 Nov 2004
Appeal by the Defendants against an order declaring that the flank wall of 39HP which adjoins the Garden is a party wall within the meaning of section 38(1) of the 1925 Act and of section 20 of the 1996 Act. The issue on the appeal is whether the judge was right to make those declarations … Continue reading Wellington Properties Ltd v Second Duke of Westminster, Trustees of The Will of and Another: ChD 13 Nov 2018
The Plaintiff had relied on a negligent survey to purchase a substantial Elizabethan property and land. The report did not mention that the timbers of the house were badly affected by death watch beetle and worm so that the only course left to him was to replace the roof and to rebuild the timbers etc. … Continue reading Philips v Ward: CA 1956
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 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
The tenant was sued by his landlord for arrears of rent, but sought an equitable set-off for damages for disrepair accruing under the previous landlord. Held: If the entitlement to recover arrears of rent passes from assignor to assignee, and if the amount of that entitlement is reduced or extinguished at common law by money … Continue reading Smith v Muscat: CA 10 Jul 2003
A right of pre-emption had misdescribed the property when it was registered. The land was transferred without regard to the right of pre-emption. It was found as a fact that no money passed for the transfer, and the claimants said the unregistered right of pre-emption was, under the Act, only void as against a purchaser … Continue reading Merer v Fisher and Another: CA 13 May 2003
Tenants in a shopping precinct sought to enforce restrictive covenants directly against other tenants. Held: The leases were in the same form, and covenants had been imposed to restrict the uses to avoid conflict. The scheme had the characteristics required of a letting scheme. It was not necessary to look beyond the leases themselves. The … Continue reading Williams, Williams v Kiley T/A CK Supermarkets Limited: CA 21 Nov 2002
The applicant said that its land had been misappropriated, and sought rectification of the register against the respondent who was a successor in title having bought the land from the wrongdoer. Held: On registration, section 69 operated to vest only the legal title in the prior registered proprietor. The transfer being of no effect in … Continue reading Malory Enterprises Ltd v Cheshire Homes (UK) Ltd and others: CA 22 Feb 2002
The claimants asserted a right to possession of land, and the defendant resisted, claiming a proprietary estoppel. A predecessor had intended to grant a sub-lease to the defendant, who had arranged for his company JAD Ltd to execute major works on the strength of that promise. JAD was given permission to store items there, but … Continue reading Lloyd and others v Dugdale and Another: CA 21 Nov 2001
The court considered the nature of an option to buy land. Hoffman J said: ‘The granting of the option imposes no obligation upon the purchaser and an obligation upon the vendor which is contingent upon the exercise of the option. When the option is exercised, the vendor and purchaser come under obligations to perform as … Continue reading Spiro v Glencrown Properties Ltd and Another: ChD 1991
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
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – modification – additional house – whether covenants secure practical benefits of substantial value or advantage – loss of open aspect – loss of light – overbearing development – diminished outlook – disturbance – reduction in open market value of objectors’ houses – s84(1)(aa) Law of property Act 1925 – application refused Citations: … Continue reading Fogg, Re The Cobbles: UTLC 17 Apr 2018
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – discharge – modification – proposed development of 10 flats to replace single house – whether covenants obsolete – changes to the character of the neighbourhood – whether similar covenants elsewhere on estate no longer enforceable – thin end of the wedge argument – reasonable user – whether public interest in the development … Continue reading King, Re 64 Buxton Road: UTLC 6 Feb 2012
UTLC RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS – modification – covenant restricting development to one dwelling per plot – building scheme – proposal to erect two additional dwellinghouses within grounds of existing property – whether restrictions obsolete – whether practical benefits of substantial value or advantage secured by the restrictions – whether proposal would cause injury – application granted … Continue reading Cain, Re Waverley Lodge: UTLC 24 Nov 2009
The bank appealed against a decision that the simple deposit of deeds with a bank did not take effect as an equitable charge. Held: Depositing deeds with a bank is not sufficient to create a charge over them. The old law as to the creation of an equitable mortgage by deposit of deeds had been … Continue reading United Bank of Kuwait Plc v Sahib and Others: CA 2 Feb 1996
A right to pasture animals on a common had been levant and couchant, and as such was inalienable as a separate asset from the land where the animals were kept. The right was registered under the Act, and was thereby transformed into a right to graze a certain number of animals on the common. That … Continue reading Bettison and others v Langton and others: HL 17 May 2001
Two brothers had acquired land as joint tenants with the aid of a mortgage. Distinct orders were made against each of them charging their respective interests in the land. The mortgagee assigned the mortgage. The brothers held under a trust for sale. The judgment creditor sought to redeem the mortgage which was opposed by the … Continue reading Irani Finance Ltd v Singh: CA 1970
The court discussed the need for some system of acquisition of right by user. Lord Denning MR said: ‘the long user as of right should by our law be given a lawful origin if that can be done.’ Stamp LJ said: ‘if long enjoyment of a right is shown, the court will strive to uphold … Continue reading Davis v Whitby: CA 1974
A lease contained a covenant against assignment without the Landlord’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The tenant asserted, pace Killick, that the landlord could not refuse consent on the grounds that the proposed tenant might not comply with the terms of the lease, and that the building obligation operated as a use … Continue reading Ashworth Frazer Limited v Gloucester City Council: HL 8 Nov 2001
The court discussed the duties of a vendor to the property between exchange and completion: ‘These duties and rights [of a purchaser] arise from the contract of sale and it is because of their existence that the vendor is said to be a constructive trustee, or a trustee sub modo, of the estate for the … Continue reading Berkely v Poulett: CA 1977
