Legal News

Under Section 58A(6) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 , a success fee payable as part of a contingent fee arrangement cannot be included in costs payable by the other party in litigation. The Supreme Court recently ruled on whether Section 58A(6)...

There is no general rule in First-tier Tribunal (FTT) proceedings that the unsuccessful party pays the successful party's costs. However, Rule 13(1)(b) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013 allows the FTT to make an...

Sections 13 and 14 of the Housing Act 1988 provide a statutory scheme for landlords to increase the rent payable under an assured periodic tenancy by serving notice of the proposed increase on the tenant, who may then refer the proposal to the First-tier...

The son of a farmer whose final will disinherited him has succeeded in his proprietary estoppel claim and his claim for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 . For a claim of proprietary...

The Upper Tribunal (UT) recently granted modification of a restrictive covenant to allow a house to be used as a children's care home . The house was on a small residential estate. All the houses on the estate were bound by covenants restricting their use...

A man who successfully challenged his mother's final will is likely to recover the lion's share of his legal costs after the High Court ruled that his brother, who attempted to uphold the will's validity, should pay his costs on the indemnity basis . In...

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 gives leaseholders the right, under certain conditions, to take over the management of the building they live in. When attempting to exercise this right, however, it is vital to comply with the requirements set...

The Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld a challenge to a rent repayment order made against the landlord of a house in an area designated by the local authority as subject to additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The landlord had let the...

When disputes arise as to the validity of wills, the evidence of the deceased's solicitors can be crucial. In a recent High Court case concerning whether a woman had capacity to revoke her will , the Court attached considerable importance to the evidence of...

Although Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) was abolished earlier this year, it can be still claimed in respect of property transactions that completed before 1 June 2024, so cases dealing with its availability can be expected to...

A woman who was left just £1 when her stepfather passed away has failed in her challenge to the validity of his final will. The stepfather had formed a close friendship with a woman he had originally hired as a cleaner in 2011. They shared an interest...

Under Section 20ZA of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 , a tribunal may grant a landlord dispensation from the requirement to consult tenants about significant works if it finds it reasonable to do so. Recently, a landlord who carried out urgent repairs to...

Tenants who feel that excessive service charges are being demanded of them are not powerless and can challenge the reasonableness of their charges before the First-tier Tribunal (FTT). Recently, the tenants of two leasehold flats succeeded in achieving...

In certain circumstances, a person who has unlawfully killed another is precluded from benefiting as a consequence of their death, a rule known as the forfeiture rule and defined in Section 1(1) of the Forfeiture Act 1982 . However, Section 2 of the Act...

The High Court has rejected an application by a local planning authority (LPA) for permission for statutory review of a planning decision under Section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 . A developer applied for permission in principle (PiP)...