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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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obtainable from <strong>the</strong> court in which <strong>the</strong> ejectment proceedings were orcould have been brought.14.23 It seems to be settled that <strong>the</strong> tenant can apply for relief,even after <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord has obtained a possessi<strong>on</strong> order, at any timebefore <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord takes possessi<strong>on</strong> under <strong>the</strong> court order. 58Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore if <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord effects a peaceable re-entry, it appearsthat <strong>the</strong> tenant can <strong>the</strong>reafter still apply for relief, 59 but it is not clearwhat time-limit applies. 60 This does put <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>lord in a difficultpositi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> is <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disadvantages <strong>of</strong> such a “self help”remedy. 61 The Commissi<strong>on</strong> inclines to <strong>the</strong> view that <strong>the</strong> new Notice<strong>of</strong> Re-entry procedure suggested earlier 62 calls for a rec<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> tenant’s right to apply for relief against <strong>the</strong> forfeiture. Given thatservice <strong>and</strong> lodgement <strong>of</strong> that Notice would bring about a forfeiture,<strong>the</strong>re may be an argument for imposing a statutory time-limit forapplicati<strong>on</strong>s for relief, say <strong>on</strong>e m<strong>on</strong>th after service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Notice <strong>on</strong><strong>the</strong> tenant. In order to bring certainty to <strong>the</strong> situati<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong>is not inclined to suggest that <strong>the</strong> court should be given a discreti<strong>on</strong> toextend <strong>the</strong> time-limit. Instead, it should be open to <strong>the</strong> court to awarddamages to any party, for instance a sub-tenant, 63 who can showprejudice through no fault <strong>of</strong> that party resulting from operati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>time-limit. The Commissi<strong>on</strong> provisi<strong>on</strong>ally recommends that <strong>the</strong>reshould be a statutory time-limit for applicati<strong>on</strong>s for relief againstforfeiture, but any party who can show prejudice through no fault <strong>of</strong>that party resulting from operati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> time limit should be able toclaim damages.14.24 It is provided by secti<strong>on</strong> 4 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> C<strong>on</strong>veyancing Act 1892that relief can be claimed by an “underlessee” <strong>and</strong> secti<strong>on</strong> 5 definesthis as including “any pers<strong>on</strong> deriving title under or from anunderlessee”. It is clear that this includes a mortgagee <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lessee’sinterest, since this is invariably created by a sub-demise. 64 What is,58596061626364West v Rogers (1888) 4 TLR 229; Rogers v Rice [1892] 2 Ch 170.Bills<strong>on</strong> v Residential Apartments Ltd [1992] 1 All ER 141.Presumably, given that it is essentially equitable jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong> doctrine<strong>of</strong> laches (“delay defeats equity”) may apply.See paragraph 14.16 above.Paragraph 14.20 above.See paragraph 14.24 below.Wylie op cit paragraph 24.23.176

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