Hakimzay Ltd v Swailes [2015] EWHC B14 (Ch) (25 February 2015)

Hakimzay Ltd v Swailes [2015] EWHC B14 (Ch) (25 February 2015)

The defendant was not entitled to serve notice of rescission after expiry of the notice to complete without fixing a new date; time was not of the essence after 29 April, claimant did not repudiate the contract, and defendant's purported termination and forfeiture of deposit were invalid.

Citation
[2015] EWHC B14 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Hakimzay Limited; Defendant: Mr. Robin Swailes
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 February 2015
Procedural Posture
Cross Applications for Summary Judgment / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for claimant
Legal Topics
Specific Performance, Repudiatory Breach, Rescission, Sale of Land, Vacant Possession, Amendment of Pleadings

Case Brief

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Parties

Hakimzay Limited

Claimant

Mr. Robin Swailes

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Cross Applications for Summary Judgment / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether time remained of the essence after expiry of the notice to complete
  2. 2 Whether claimant's failure to complete on 2 May constituted repudiatory breach
  3. 3 Whether defendant validly terminated the contract and forfeited the deposit

Ratio Decidendi

The defendant was not entitled to serve notice of rescission after expiry of the notice to complete without fixing a new date; time was not of the essence after 29 April, claimant did not repudiate the contract, and defendant's purported termination and forfeiture of deposit were invalid.

Court Disposition

Judgment for claimant

Orders

  • Decree of specific performance granted
  • Application for permission to amend defence refused