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 […]
Diminution valuation in dilapidations cases
Critique of the “Stand In The Street” method – in contrast to the Shortlands residual valuation method THE CRUDE “STAND IN THE STREET” METHOD This method is dying out gradually. It consists of looking at the building without analysis of the schedule of dilapidations and asking oneself “Well, really, what difference does it make?” – […]
Why is the Landlord’s Intention Relevant to Dilapidations?
Why is the landlord’s intention relevant to dilapidations at the end of the lease term? This paper was written for the RICS Dilapidations Forum Conference 30 September 2014 by Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC. Introduction It is notoriously the case that a claim for damages for terminal dilapidations is limited by section 18(1) of the Landlord and […]
Dilapidations Definition. What is Dilapidations?
Dilapidations definition is an allegation of a breach of a tenant’s legal obligations under the repair, decoration and reinstatement covenants stipulated within a property lease.” Following the identification of a possible breach of lease, a landlord will usually submit a claim for damages (dilapidations claim), which is enforceable in a court of law. Simplified – a […]
Why Are Dilapidations Claims So Complex and Costly?
Dilapidation claims are often contentious, mainly due to the differences between the landlord’s interpretation of disrepair to the space in question vs. the tenants. The two parties will, no doubt, also have differing viewpoints on the level of repair work that should subsequently be undertaken. So who is right – the tenant or the landlord? […]
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 […]
Must a tenant remove tenant’s fixtures?
Battles about Chattels Part 4 of 4 Chattels – The General Rule Nearly every lease has an express covenant by the tenant to yield up possession at the end of the term. Even if there is no express covenant, there will be an implied obligation to deliver up vacant possession when the lease ends. This […]
What is a tenant’s obligation if a chattel is let with the building?
Battles about Chattels Part 3 of 4 The tenant’s obligations in respect of chattels let with the building e.g. carpets which are not fixtures will depend entirely on the terms of the lease; it is not possible to give any general guidance. They may be referred to in the lease expressly, or as “fittings” (see […]
Is it a Fixture?
What is a fixture or chattel?
Battles about Chattels Part 1 of 4 Classification – chattels, fixtures, landlord’s fixtures, tenant’s fixtures, fittings, part of the building If you visit an office building you will see a variety of things that, at one time or another, have been brought to the land. At one extreme there is the structure of the building […]