Brief notes on some recent Upper Tribunal cases. Davies v Benwell Road RTM Company Ltd (LANDLORD AND TENANT - SERVICE CHARGES) (2023) UKUT 197 (LC) Following a complicated and muddled history of County Court and FTT proceedings between the parties, a 'double...
From the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and one Court of Appeal decision
Some brief notes on recent Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal decisions on leasehold and service charge issues. Yambasu v London Borough of Southwark (LANDLORD AND TENANT - SERVICE CHARGES - Consultation requirements for qualifying long-term agreements)...
No defence, no reasonableness – service charges and referral to the Tribunal.
Gell v 32 St John's Road (Eastbourne) Management Company Ltd (2021) EWCA Civ 789 This is one of those cases where the Court of Appeal says "It is perhaps surprising that in the 35 years since the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 was enacted the effect on a claim...
Service charges and reasonably incurred
Garside and another v RFYC Ltd and another [2011] UKUT 367 (LC) By s.19(1)(a), Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, leaseholders are only liable to pay service charges to the extent that they are reasonably incurred. The property in question has something of an...
Service charges: a welcome return to orthodoxy
Whilst we're waiting for Wednesday, (when the Supreme Court will give judgment in Pinnock, in case you were wondering), the housing law world doesn't stop in the interim. Far from it. So, without further ado, lets turn to Regent Management Ltd v Jones [2010]...
Looking at it from all angles
Whitehouse v Lee [2009] EWCA Civ 375 is a rare beast – a successful appeal against a decision on reasonableness in the context of possession proceedings. However, it merits close attention not only for its rarity, but because it also reminds us of how to...
Carry me out feet first
Second of the Ground 16 cases is London Borough of Brent v John Hodson [2009] EWHC 566 (QB) [Not on Bailli yet]. This was decided in January but only released in the last day or so. This is an appeal to the High Court on issues of availability of suitable...
Appealing reasonableness decisions
This is the first of two appeals on Ground 16 possession claims which came out today, both concerning whether it was reasonable to make a possession order. The second will be up later on. Bracknell Forest Borough Council v Harry Green & Denise Green...
Risky business
In CDS Housing v Bellis [2008] EWCA Civ 1315, the Court of Appeal in a short judgment upheld a possession order made in favour of the Claimant housing association against Mr Bellis, a secure tenant, who suffered from serious delusions. Mr Bellis appears to...