header-logo header-logo

A binding agreement?

10 July 2009 / James Naylor , Claire Southway
Issue: 7377 / Categories: Features , Landlord&tenant , Property
printer mail-detail

How can landlords guarantee they receive rent payments when insolvency looms? James Naylor & Claire Southway investigate

Can a landlord have its cake and eat it? Or, in the case of Cotswold Company Limited subnom Threadneedle Pensions Ltd v Asher Miller [2009] EWHC 1151 (Ch), can a landlord make a claim under a company voluntary arrangement for future rent, irrespective of an express surrender ending the tenant’s leasehold rights and the right to occupy and use the premises?

The Cotswold Company Limited (the company) was a tenant of retail premises pursuant to a lease (the lease) of 15 years from 7 March 2003 at an initial rent of £100,000 per annum. The lease imposed standard obligations on the company to pay rent and service charge and to keep the premises in repair during and at the end of the term.

On 21 December 2006, the company put forward proposals for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) under Pt I of the Insolvency Act 1986. By this point the company had vacated the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll