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rent reduction or increase

Laceys tips when considering a rent reduction during coronavirus

15th June 2020 by Rob Kelly

Categories: Covid-19
Tags: , , , , , ,

Commercial and residential tenants who miss rent payments due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic are now protected from eviction until at least 23 August 2020.

Landlords and tenants may want to agree a change in the rent payable under a tenancy agreement, but a change which is incorrectly documented, or not documented at all, could significantly affect the parties’ rights and obligations.  This could be particularly important, for example, if there is a guarantor of the tenant’s liabilities and obligations so as to ensure that the guarantor is not relieved of their guarantee obligations.

So what factors should be taken into account in order to properly document such changes?  Among them are the following:

  1. Does the reduction in sums payable by the tenant cover rent only or does it also include service charges?
  2. Is the reduction to be a deferral (so that the full rent / service charge remains payable at a later date) or a holiday (i.e. a waiver of charges for the agreed period)?
  3. If some or all of the sums are to be waived, are they to be capable of being claimed in full by the landlord if the concession is terminated due to a breach by the tenant?
  4. Ensure the letter is personal to the tenant so that if the tenancy is assigned the letter will cease to have effect.
  5. Ensure that any rent review which occurs during the period of reduced rent will be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the tenancy and will not take account of the terms of the letter.
  6. Although the Coronavirus Act 2020 prevents a landlord recovering possession until 23 August 2020 where the ground for doing so is the non-payment of rent, are the landlord’s other options for responding to a breach of covenant to be preserved?
  7. If the tenancy provides for the payment of interest on rent / service charge paid late, is there to be a deferral or suspension of that interest?

These are just a few of the numerous issues that should be considered if a change to the obligations to pay rent or service charges are to be implemented.  Each situation should be considered in the light of the terms of the particular lease, and any letter recording the agreement should be drafted accordingly.  The parties are therefore encouraged to seek legal advice before agreeing to or implementing the terms of any such letter.

Laceys Solicitors provides specialist services in landlord and tenant law. If you would like any further advice on drafting changes to tenancy agreements, please contact Rob Kelly by email or 01202 755217 who will be happy to help.

Rob Kelly

Senior Associate Solicitor — Dispute Resolution

Direct dial: 01202 377871

Email

Rob Kelly
  • “Rob Kelly has been absolutely exceptional in resolving this litigation and so thorough in everything and basically gave the opposition a masterclass of his work that he is so good at.”

    Paul Jeffcoate - Contentious Probate Client

  • “I have had the pleasure of working with several members of the team at Laceys regularly over a period of years. I found Rob Kelly in particular, who worked on a successful litigation case for me over a period of several years to be outstanding in all aspects of the work he undertook, and the manner in which he did it. I now consider him a friend. I would not - and have not - hesitated to recommend Laceys to my family and friends, and continue to use them for all legal matters.”

    Dan Collins

  • “ I just wanted to thank you for your great work on the professional negligence case and other cases you have represented Indian Ocean and Tiien through the last few years.”

    Mehdi Vahdati, Director and Proprietor - Indian Ocean (Bournemouth) Limited

  • “A case that was initially very straightforward became difficult and, for me, very frustrating. Rob Kelly's calm, lucid and very professional advice and planning were invaluable and led to a good outcome.”

    Don Young

  • “Their Fee Management was exemplary and the expertise provided by Rob was exactly what we required.”

    Sunseeker London Limited

  • “I've worked with a fair few lawyers over the years and Rob Kelly is the most on the ball and efficient lawyers I've ever come across. I'm looking forward to working together for many years to come.”

    Roger Woodall CEO - Diamond Sporting Group

Rob practices in two main, complimentary areas of work – contentious wills, probate and trust disputes, and property disputes.

Contentious wills, probate and trusts

More than half of Rob’s time is spent dealing with the contentious aspects of wills, probate and trusts, an area in which he has practiced continuously for over 20 years.  He advises and acts in disputes relating to wills and inheritance, trusts, the duties of trustees and personal representatives, and the administration of estate.

Rob’s practice embraces:

  • Personal representative and trustee disputes (including personal representative and trustee disagreements, removals / substitutions and alleged misconduct)
  • Disappointed beneficiary claims
  • Will disputes (where the validity of a will is challenged on the grounds of undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval of the contents of a will, and fraudulent calumny)
  • Financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
  • Proprietary estoppel claims
  • Disputes about the proper construction, and rectification, of wills
  • Caveats
  • Professional liability claims arising from the preparation of wills and trusts and the administration of estates

He has mediated (either as appointed mediator or as a representative) dozens of disputes involving contentious wills and probate issues.

Property disputes

The other side of Rob’s practice is contentious property work.  This embraces:

  • Residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes
  • Disrepairs
  • Repairing covenants
  • Possession claims
  • Lease termination and lease forfeiture
  • Dilapidations
  • Service charge disputes
  • Interpretation and enforcement of leasehold covenants

Rob’s style is a mix of listening, asking (tough) questions, diplomacy and reality testing. He’s interested, flexible, and pragmatic. He offers a common sense, realistic approach to assist his clients in searching for solutions to their disputes and brings straight talking and integrity to his work.

Rob is a Solicitor. He successfully completed training as a mediator under the ADR Chambers / Harvard Law Project Scheme in June 2006 and is a member of the Civil Mediation Council.

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