Commercial property landlords banned from demanding rent arrears – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession, winding up by sally

‘Commercial property landlords in the UK have been temporarily banned from taking legal action against tenants who have not paid their rent, to protect retailers and other businesses from “aggressive rent collection” during the coronavirus crisis.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Probability of violence and dates of actions – Nearly Legal

Posted April 21st, 2020 in appeals, domestic violence, homelessness, housing, local government, news, rent by sally

‘A second appeal on a homelessness review, where a finding of intentional homelessness had been upheld, raising an important point on whether events or factors post-dating the decision or action that led to eviction need to be considered on review.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th April 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Does CRAR mean the right to forfeiture is waived? Commercial landlords should carefully consider their options… – Tanfield Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, forfeiture, landlord & tenant, leases, news, rent by sally

‘The procedure by which a landlord may recover arrears of rent in relation to commercial premises was fundamentally changed several years ago. Chapter 2 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 abolished the common law right to distrain for arrears of rent, replacing it with the commercial rent arrears recovery procedure (‘CRAR’). But what has been the impact of this change on whether a landlord taking enforcement action to recover arrears waived his right to forfeiture of a lease?’

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Tanfield Chambers, 9th April 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Does a Tenant really have to go on paying rent during lockdown? Perhaps we should ask the Officious Bystander… – Falcon Chambers

Posted April 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, landlord & tenant, news, rent by sally

‘If tenants are precluded by law from making use of the premises demised them, do they still have to go on paying their rent in full?’

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Falcon Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Coronavirus: residential possessions and lease forfeiture proceedings – Becket Chambers

‘The Coronavirus Act 2020 has put a hold on any existing residential possession proceedings for a period of 90 days and extended the notice period required as a precursor for any new residential possession to three months (section 81 of the Act and Practice Direction 51Z) and removed the right of re-entry or forfeiture for business tenancies for non-payment of rent until (at present) the 30th June 2020 (section 82).’

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Becket Chambers, 3rd April 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Rent during Covid-19: landlords still hold the strongest hand – Falcon Chambers

Posted April 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, landlord & tenant, news, rent by sally

‘Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the coming into force of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) much ink has been spilled about the frustration of leases. While the rapidly expanding body of literature makes interesting reading, it is largely irrelevant for real-world landlords and tenants. No one really wants to argue frustration. Tenants may not want to pay rent, but (unless quitting their business altogether, in which case they may not be overly concerned about past rent) they certainly don’t want to be out on their ear: a necessary corollary of a successful frustration plea.’

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Falcon Chambers, 15th April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Present & Post Covid-19 Rent Review disputes & ADR – 33 Bedford Row

‘At the best of times there are disputes between commercial landlords and retailers in England and Wales. Over the last month the effect of the Covid 19 public health crisis has laid waste to the high street. Most shops cannot now open, and the ones that can must implement stringent social distancing measures. All pubs, restaurants, cinemas and so on are closed. Where there is no footfall there is no spending by customers and no income generated to pay rent. No one at the time of writing knows exactly when this position will change. The present scenario presents an unattractive vista for commercial landlords. Nothing operates in a vacuum; the rent these landlords were expecting will be income for investors who may own a small retail building and have no other source of income. Large pension funds, who often invest in the high street, will continue to have the normal financial obligations to the members of their fund. Some landlords will be reliant on their commercial rental income to service a loan secured on the building they rent out.’

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33 Bedford Row, 9th April 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Government to protect commercial tenants from eviction if they miss rent payments over coronavirus outbreak –

‘Commercial tenants who miss a payment in the next three months because of the coronavirus outbreak will be protected from eviction, the government has announced.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Housing associations under pressure to offer Covid-19 rent holidays – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2020 in coronavirus, health, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Housing associations are under pressure to offer rent holidays after only one pledged not to evict any tenant in arrears due to self-isolating because of the coronavirus.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is a Section 8 notice on rent arrears a demand for rent? – Nearly Legal

‘I have kindly been sent a couple of county court Circuit Judge decisions on the issue of whether section 8 notices (where the ground is rent arrears) have to comply with the requirements of section 47 Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 by the inclusion of the landlord’s name and address. They reach contradictory conclusions, leaving open an issue to be resolved by a higher court, and a further issue for first instance courts.’

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Nearly Legal, 8th March 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Curing defects in section 8 notices seeking possession – what is the test? – St Ives Chambers

Posted February 26th, 2020 in chambers articles, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has recently considered whether the “reasonable recipient” test in Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] UKHL 19 applies to notices served pursuant to s8 Housing Act 1988.’

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St Ives Chambers, 20th February 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

You know what I mean – Errors in section 8 notices – Nearly Legal

Posted February 24th, 2020 in appeals, housing, landlord & tenant, news, notification, rent, repossession by sally

‘Does an error in a section 8 notice – in this case specifically as to the earliest date on which possession proceedings can begin – invalidate the notice?’

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Nearly Legal, 22nd February 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Case Comment: The Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd v Vauxhall Motors Ltd (Formerly General Motors UK Ltd) [2019] UKSC 46 – UKSC Blog

Posted February 24th, 2020 in appeals, canals, forfeiture, leases, news, rent, Supreme Court by sally

‘In this case comment, Michael Cox of CMS comments on the judgment handed down in the matter of The Manchester Ship Canal Company Ltd v Vauxhall Motors Ltd (Formerly General Motors UK Ltd) [2019] UKSC 46. Michael is a senior associate in the Real Estate Dispute team at CMS. Michael advises on all aspects of property law, with a particular emphasis on development advice and dispute resolution.’

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UKSC Blog, 21st February 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Wellbeing and cost of practice worrying barristers – Legal Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2020 in barristers, mental health, news, rates, rent, standards, statistics by sally

‘Experienced barristers are largely confident for their own futures but face challenges around wellbeing, the rising cost of doing business and the late payment of fees, a major survey has found.’

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Legal Futures, 20th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rent Repayment Orders, criminal standard, and new evidence on appeal – Nearly Legal

Posted January 20th, 2020 in appeals, evidence, housing, landlord & tenant, licensing, news, rent, tribunals by sally

‘This was the appeal of a First Tier Tribunal decision on Ms Salva’s application for a rent repayment order.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th January 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

When to disapply subordinate legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘It is still relatively uncontroversial to suggest that, as a matter of public law, public authorities must comply with legislation. But what should public authorities do where such compliance would actually result in a breach of a right under the European Convention on Human Rights? In RR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] UKSC 52, the Supreme Court held that it is not unconstitutional for a public authority to disapply a provision of subordinate legislation to avoid breaching a convention right. This is necessary under the Human Rights Act 1998. Public authorities will be looking to the horizon to see what impact this decision may have more widely.’

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Law Society's Gazette, January 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

10 cases that defined 2019 – UK Human Rights Blog

‘And so, we reach the end of another year. And what a year it has been. As well perhaps the most tumultuous period in British politics for decades, this year saw the first ever image taken of a black hole, a victory for the England men’s cricket team at the World Cup, the discovery of a new species of prehistoric small-bodied human in the Philippines and signs that humpback whale numbers in the South Atlantic have bounced back thanks to intensive conservation efforts. And the law? Well, rather a lot has happened really. As the festive season draws near, what better way is there to celebrate than to rewind the clock and relive the 10 cases which have defined 2019?’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th December 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Director of lettings and property management agency jailed for two years over £230k fraud – Local Government Lawyer

‘The director of a lettings and property management agency who defrauded more than £230,000 from the landlords and tenants that were his clients has received a two-year prison sentence, following an investigation by Southampton City Council’s Trading Standards Service.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

FTT fails natural justice on tenant’s RRO application – Nearly Legal

Posted December 6th, 2019 in houses in multiple occupation, licensing, news, rent, repayment by sally

‘In which the Upper Tribunal gives the First Tier Tribunal a thorough ticking off over its decision on a rent repayment order application.’

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Nearly Legal, 5th December 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Après nous le déluge – rents and water resellers – Nearly Legal

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in landlord & tenant, local government, news, rates, rent, water by tracey

‘Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames v Moss (2019) EWHC 3261 (Ch). Ever since Jones v London Borough of Southwark (2016) EWHC 457 (Ch) (our report), the position on water rates taken as rent by a number of London Councils and Housing Associations under agreements with Thames Water has been conflicted. Some councils (including Southwark) refunded tenants the ‘discount’ that they had received. Other councils did nothing, and frantically tried to settle and defence to rent arrears possession proceedings that raised the water rates point (not always successfully), in the hope and expectation that someone else would take another case to the High Court and overturn or distinguish Jones.’

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Nearly Legal, 1st December 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk