Architects, surveyors and other property professionals often refer to the ‘elevations’ of buildings – but what exactly does the word mean? In a guideline ruling, the Upper Tribunal (UT) has resolved that question in the context of a landlord and tenant dispute. The case concerned
Party walls and the joint responsibilities that go with them are frequently a bone of contention between neighbours. That was certainly so in an instructive High Court case concerning the flank wall of a house that adjoined a communal garden. The house had formerly been
Some obligations that are placed on tenants by their leases can be waived by their landlords, but others are expressed as absolute commitments. A guideline Court of Appeal ruling in the context of controversial basement works in a residential block showed how crucial that distinction
Ground rents payable by long leaseholders often amount to apparently trifling sums, but allowing them to fall into arrears can have severe consequences. The point was made by a Court of Appeal case in which a tenant came perilously close to having his lease forfeited
In a decision of importance to landlords, particularly of student accommodation, the Supreme Court has ruled that conditions attached to licences granted in respect of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) can stipulate classes of persons who are considered suitable to occupy them. The case concerned
Buying property at auction can be hazardous and should never be attempted without instructing lawyers to carry out all the necessary checks. In a case on point, a father and son bought a former council flat for over £200,000, in ignorance of the fact that
If you are a tenant planning to run a business from your home, it really is essential to consult a lawyer first. In a case on point, a woman who operated a child-minding enterprise in her flat found herself in unwitting breach of her lease
Flat tenants who wish to take over management of the blocks where they live can very easily be bamboozled by legal complexity without the benefit of professional advice. In a case on point, one such attempt to achieve self-determination was defeated by a fine legal
