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Consultation Paper on the General Law of the Landlord and Tenant

Consultation Paper on the General Law of the Landlord and Tenant

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Notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> title “ejectment”, an ejectment for n<strong>on</strong>payment<strong>of</strong> rent is primarily a proceeding to enforce payment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>rent <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> basis that <strong>the</strong> tenancy still exists. The ultimate sancti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong>an ejectment order entitling <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord to possessi<strong>on</strong>, <strong>and</strong>c<strong>on</strong>sequent determinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tenancy, is a last resort, to be appliedif <strong>the</strong> tenant does not resp<strong>on</strong>d to <strong>the</strong> proceedings by producing <strong>the</strong>rent arrears.8.20 In practice <strong>the</strong> remedy is rarely invoked partly because <strong>of</strong>various restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> its scope 69 <strong>and</strong> partly because <strong>of</strong> some veryunattractive features from <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord’s point <strong>of</strong> view. 70 The result isthat l<strong>and</strong>lords prefer in n<strong>on</strong>-payment <strong>of</strong> rent cases to invoke <strong>the</strong>express right <strong>of</strong> forfeiture for breach <strong>of</strong> covenant <strong>and</strong> to enforce this,if necessary, by bringing an ejectment <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> title or for overholding.The subject <strong>of</strong> ejectment acti<strong>on</strong>s generally is reviewed in a laterchapter. 71 The Commissi<strong>on</strong> provisi<strong>on</strong>ally recommends that <strong>the</strong>statutory acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> ejectment for n<strong>on</strong>-payment <strong>of</strong> rent should beabolished.I O<strong>the</strong>r Payments8.21 It was menti<strong>on</strong>ed earlier that secti<strong>on</strong> 42 <strong>of</strong> Deasy’s Act alsoincludes in leases an implied agreement by <strong>the</strong> tenant to pay “all taxes<strong>and</strong> impositi<strong>on</strong>s payable by <strong>the</strong> tenant.” Quite what this covers is farfrom clear, partly because it is not clear what is encompassed by <strong>the</strong>word “impositi<strong>on</strong>s”, which is not defined by <strong>the</strong> Act. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, itis not clear whe<strong>the</strong>r “payable by <strong>the</strong> tenant” refers to an obligati<strong>on</strong> in<strong>the</strong> lease or under <strong>the</strong> general law. Even if it refers to <strong>the</strong> general law,<strong>the</strong>re are fur<strong>the</strong>r doubts because <strong>of</strong>ten taxes or impositi<strong>on</strong>s are notlevied <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> individual, but ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> premises, or are not levied<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord or tenant as such but, eg, <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> “occupier” <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>premises. 72 Thus rates, which are still payable in respect <strong>of</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-69707172It can be invoked <strong>on</strong>ly after at least a year’s rent is in arrear: secti<strong>on</strong> 52.The most obvious <strong>on</strong>e is <strong>the</strong> tenant’s right to obtain an order <strong>of</strong>“restituti<strong>on</strong>” restoring him or her to possessi<strong>on</strong>, if <strong>the</strong> rent arrears aretendered or lodged in court within 6 m<strong>on</strong>ths <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord executing <strong>the</strong>ejectment order or retaking possessi<strong>on</strong>.See Chapter 15 below. As regards <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord’s right <strong>of</strong> forfeiture seeChapter 14 below.This whole subject is discussed in Wylie op cit Chapter 13.123

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