In Shaw v Doleman[2009] EWCA Civ 279 the Court of Appeal confirmed the view taken by some writers as to the effect of the disclaimer of an assigned lease on the obligations of a guarantor. At the same time it highlights that wording common in Authorised...
Improvements, rent and former long leaseholders – a nasty loophole
The recent case of Hughes v Borodex Ltd [2009] EWHC 565 (Admin) illustrates a pitfall that may face the very small number of former long leaseholders who have become assured tenancies as a result of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 ("the 1989 Act")....
Help with service charges
Leaseholders who purchased their properties from local housing authorities under the Right to Buy (and those persons who subsequently bought on from those original purchasers) are currently facing huge service charge bills (up to £40,000 in some London...
Leasehold update
A couple of things to leave you with on a Friday afternoon. Leaseholders who are dissatisfied with the management of their properties are entitled to apply to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) for the appointment of a manager - Part 3, Landlord and Tenant...
Unreasonable refusal to assign
A case appearing on my radar, though one that may not excite many readers is Landlord Protect Limited v St Anselm Development Company Limited [2009] EWCA Civ 99. A case concerning whether a landlord has imposed an unreasonable condition for a consent to...
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear
We all knew that Lambeth Housing was in a bit of a self imposed mess, and this is an outline of what it amounts to. I'm not going to add much in the way of comment, but anyone who acts on occasion for Lambeth tenants or leaseholders or homeless applicants...
Right to Buy leases and service charges
Leicester City Council v Masters LRX/175/2007 (links to a .pdf) Pursuant to the Right to Buy provisions, the respondent purchased a leasehold interest in his flat in April 2005. As readers will know, where someone is purchasing a leasehold interest under the...
Procedure in the Lands Tribunal
The Lands Tribunal has handed down a number of important decisions in the last week that those working in the field of leasehold enfranchisement need to be aware of. Earl Cadogan v Erkman LRA/56/2007 & LRA/68/2007 (links to a .pdf file) concerns attempts...
Effluxion of time and enfranchisement
Ackerman and another v Lay and others [2008] EWCA Civ 1428 (not on Bailli, but available via Lawtel) The appellants/tenants were the leasehold owners of a building and the respondents were the freehold owners of the same. The building had been subdivided...
Enfranchisement – is it all hope(value)less?
Earl Cadogan and other v Pitts and another; Earl Cadogan and another v Sportelli and another [2008] UKHL 71 Enfranchisement is the process whereby leaseholders can force their freeholder to sell them the freehold of the property. The Leasehold Reform Act...
What is a service charge?
Morshead Mansions Ltd v Leon Di Marco [2008] EWCA Civ 1371 Service charges. Much more interesting than tolerated trespassers. Honestly. Sections 18 - 30 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 contain a detailed regulatory framework for service charges in residential...
Accepting "part" of a cheque without waiving forfeiture
Osibanjo v Seahive Investments Limited [2008] EWCA Civ 1282 (Court of Appeal) Are there circumstances in which a landlord can accept only part of a cheque offered by a tenant and thereby avoid waiving its right to forfeit? It would appear that there are,...