The expiry of a lease presents a landlord with the possibility of an income void lasting many months, which has an even greater impact in a difficult lettings market. It is unsurprising, therefore, that unscrupulous landlords sometimes regard a terminal dilapidations claim as a means of offsetting the leaner times ahead. What can a tenant […]
Falcon Chambers on Dilapidations Claims
At the heart of any dilapidations dispute is the appropriate meaning to attribute to the words of a repairing covenant. This paper considers, first, the process of construing repairing covenants and establishing whether a landlord or a tenant has a remedy in any given case. Secondly, the various remedies open to the parties will be […]
A Barrister’s Dilapidations Advice to a Tenant
Dilapidations is complex, often costly, and a potentially a legal minefield. Tenants seeking dilapidations advice should read this article first. Anthony Tanney, a Barrister and member of Falcon Chambers, looks at the salient issues facing an occupier. IN A DIFFICULT LETTINGS MARKET, THE expiry of a lease presents the landlord with the possibility of an income […]
Break Clause cases
Recent Break Clause Cases (Part 2) NB This paper should be read in conjunction with Part 1, which summarises some of the mechanics of break clauses that often arise for consideration. PCE Investors Limited v Cancer Research UK [2012] EWHC 884 Facts: The break clause required T to pay the rents reserved by the lease up […]
Breaking a Lease -A Legal Perspective
Breaking a Lease Requires an Understanding of the Legal Pitfalls IN THE CONTEXT OF ANY COMPANY restructuring or reorganisation, the presence of a break clause in one of the company’s leases is a valuable thing indeed. This will enable the tenant to move out of unwanted or over rented space. At the very least, if the […]
Break Clauses in Dilapidations
A review of recent decisions and developments relating to a break clause, including validity of notices, service and estoppel, compliance with conditions and giving vacant possession. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to review of some recent decisions relating to the exercise of break notices. The form of this paper will take two parts. […]
Common Law Damages and the Statutory Cap
At the end of the term, a landlord may find that he has a damages claim against the departed tenant. It has been conventional to differentiate between the common law measure of damages and the statutory cap on those damages.[1] The Basic Common Law Measure At common law, damages comprised COST OF – BETTERMENT […]
Dilapidations Protocol – A Landlord and Tenant Update
The Dilapidations Protocol was adopted in January 2012. This article reflects on the twelve month following adoption and looks at what this means to Landlords and tenants. Author; Ciara Fairley, Falcon Chambers, 27th February 2013 The Pre-Action Protocol for Claims for Damages in Relation to the Physical State of Commercial Property at Termination of a […]