Duval (Respondent) v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd (Appellant)
Case ID: UKSC 2018/0211
Case summary
Issue(s)
Is a landlord of a block of flats entitled, without breach of covenant, to grant a licence to a lessee to carry out work which would breach an absolute covenant contained in a lease of her flat, where the leases of other flats on similar terms require the landlord to enforce covenants at the request of a lessee of one of those other flats?
Facts
The respondent is the lessee of flats 11G and 11H at 11-13 Randolph Crescent W9. She and the lessees of the other flats in the Building hold leases granted for 125 years in similar terms, which contain an absolute covenant prohibiting a lessees from cutting into walls or ceilings (clause 2.7). By clause 3.19 of the lease, the landlord (now the appellant) undertook at the request of a lessee, and subject to the payment by the lessee of the landlord’s costs, to enforce certain covenants, including clause 2.7, entered into by the lessees of the other flats. The appellant wished to license works proposed by the tenant of Flat 13 which involving cutting into walls, which would otherwise breach clause 2.7. The respondent sought a declaration that the appellant could not do so as it would put it out of its power to enforce the absolute covenant at the request of a lessee pursuant to clause 3.19.
Judgment appealed
Parties
Appellant(s)
11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd
Respondent(s)
Dr Julia Duval
Appeal
Justices
Lady Hale, Lord Carnwath, Lady Black, Lord Kitchin, Lord Sales
Hearing start date
10 Oct 2019
Hearing finish date
10 Oct 2019
| Watch hearing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 2019 | Morning session | Afternoon session |
Judgment details
Judgment date
06 May 2020
Neutral citation
[2020] UKSC 18
| Watch Judgment summary | |
|---|---|
| 06 May 2020 | Judgment summary |