Insurance News Archive
House of Lords judgement 'aids landlords'
A judgment by the House of Lords has relaxed the process from which landlords can recover rent from previous tenants.
In the case of Scottish & Newcastle vs Raguz, the High Court has ruled to remove the need for a 'section 17' notice.
Property Week reports that the case focused on recovering rent from former tenants who had sub-let space to a new person unable to pay.
Under old rules, a section 17 had to be served to the former tenants within six months of charges becoming due.
This process has previously been seen as an "expensive administrative headache" for landlords.
Dan Levy, head of property litigation at Mischcon de Reya, told Property Week: "Thank goodness for a dose of common sense from the House of Lords.
"The last thing that landlords need in this climate are any more legal bear traps to prevent them recovering arrears."
Lee Dribben, chairman of the Residential Landlords Association, warned that a landlord who needs to meet mortgage, tax and uphold payments but is not receiving rent payments from tenants could end up losing their own home.
29 Oct 2008
