Bell & Ors v General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corporation Ltd [1997] EWCA Civ 2962 (11 December 1997)

Bell & Ors v General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corporation Ltd [1997] EWCA Civ 2962 (11 December 1997)

A tenancy by estoppel is protected under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954; the statutory definitions of 'landlord' and 'tenancy' encompass tenancies by estoppel, and the doctrine of estoppel requires treating the landlord's title as real for statutory purposes. There is no express or implied exclusion of tenancies by estoppel from the Act's protection.

Citation
[1997] EWCA Civ 2962
Parties
Plaintiffs/appellants: John Lawrence David Bell & Ors; Defendants/respondents: General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 December 1997
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Court of Appeal (civil Division) Decision
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Tenancy by Estoppel, Statutory Protection Under Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Definition of Landlord and Tenancy, Estoppel Doctrine, Adverse Possession
Landlord and Tenant Property Law Business Tenancies Tenancy by Estoppel Statutory Protection Under Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Definition of Landlord and Tenancy Estoppel Doctrine Adverse Possession

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Parties

John Lawrence David Bell & Ors

Plaintiffs/appellants

General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd

Defendants/respondents

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Court of Appeal (civil Division) Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a tenancy by estoppel is protected under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
  2. 2 Whether a company without title at the time of demise can invoke s.24A of the Act
  3. 3 Statutory interpretation of 'landlord' and 'tenancy' under the Act

Ratio Decidendi

A tenancy by estoppel is protected under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954; the statutory definitions of 'landlord' and 'tenancy' encompass tenancies by estoppel, and the doctrine of estoppel requires treating the landlord's title as real for statutory purposes. There is no express or implied exclusion of tenancies by estoppel from the Act's protection.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Defendants to have the costs of the appeal from the date of the last order