Legal News

The courts have the power to order claimants to provide financial security to ensure that the defendants can recover their costs if the claim is unsuccessful. Recently, the sons of a deceased man sought security for costs from a woman from Thailand who...

A person who is in adverse possession of registered land may apply to the Land Registry to be registered as its owner on the basis of ten years' adverse possession of it, ending on the date of the application. If the application is opposed by the existing...

Under Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 , where a landlord undertakes qualifying works with a cost of more than £250 per lease without consulting the leaseholders, the contribution from each leaseholder will be limited to that sum....

A TV producer's partner who was left nothing in his will has commenced High Court proceedings seeking financial provision from his estate. The producer passed away in 2019, at the age of 58. He had been in a long-term relationship with his partner and had...

The Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld a landlord's appeal against a civil penalty imposed on him for managing an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO). The property had five bedrooms which were let to individuals who did not form a single household....

It is always advisable to check the service charges you are asked to pay rather than simply assuming they are correct. This point was illustrated by a recent case in which four leaseholders obtained refunds of service charges relating to electricity costs...

Many people put off making a will or have reservations about doing so, but having a professionally drafted will drawn up by a solicitor is the best way to avoid disputes arising after you are gone. This point was amply illustrated by an unusual High Court...

A landlord which withdrew its objection to a right to manage application shortly before the hearing of the application has succeeded in its appeal against a costs order made on the grounds that its conduct of the proceedings had been unreasonable . An RTM...

Tenants who are unhappy with service charges they are asked to pay can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) for a determination of whether the charges are payable. Recently, the tenants of two flats were successful in persuading the FTT that the costs of...

If you wish to change to your will, it is always advisable to do so promptly rather than leaving it until later. This was amply demonstrated by a recent case in which the High Court was called upon to determine various issues in relation to a codicil a...

Tenants who wish to challenge any deductions made from their deposits at the end of their tenancies should ensure they follow the dispute resolution procedures of the relevant tenancy deposit scheme. Recently, a tenant who instead applied to the First-tier...

A woman who was left nothing in her father's will has succeeded in her claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 for reasonable financial provision from his estate. Her father had passed away in 2020, leaving an estate...

A couple who let out a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have defeated an application for a rent repayment order under Section 41 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on the basis that they had a reasonable excuse for failing to license the property as an...

The Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld a decision to appoint a manager of a block of student flats under Section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 . The landlord of the block had let the flats to investment purchasers on long leases. A number of the...

In an unusual case, the High Court has ruled that a will a man had written on two pieces of cardboard should be admitted to probate. The will, which the man had made the day before his tragic death by suicide, left his house and most of its contents to a...