Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

Claiming the right to a peppercorn rent

3 (1) A claim by a tenant to exercise the right to a peppercorn rent is made by the tenant giving notice of the claim (a “rent variation notice”) to—

(a) the landlord under the qualifying lease, and

(b) any other party to the qualifying lease.

(2) But a rent variation notice is of no effect if it is given at a time when—

(a) a lease extension notice,

(b) a lease enfranchisement notice, or

(c) another rent variation notice,

which relates to the qualifying lease has effect.

(3) Paragraph 4 makes provision about the suspension of a rent variation notice.

(4) A rent variation notice must state whether the right to a peppercorn rent applies—

(a) to all of the rent under the qualifying lease, or

(b) in accordance with paragraph 2(5), only to rent which relates to qualifying property demised by the qualifying lease.

(5) If the notice states that the right applies only to rent which relates to qualifying property, the rent variation notice must also describe that qualifying property.

(6) A rent variation notice must also specify—

(a) the premium which the tenant is proposing to pay for the rent reduction, and

(b) any other variations which need to be made to the lease in consequence of the reduction of the rent in accordance with this Schedule.

(7) A rent variation notice—

(a) is registrable under the Land Charges Act 1972, or

(b) may be the subject of a notice under the Land Registration Act 2002,

as if it were an estate contract.

(8) Where a rent variation notice is given, the rights and obligations of the tenant are assignable with, but are not capable of subsisting apart from, the qualifying lease or that lease so far as it demises qualifying property (see paragraph 2(5) and (6)); and, if the qualifying lease or that lease so far as it demises qualifying property is assigned—

(a) with the benefit of the notice, any reference in this Schedule to the tenant is to be construed as a reference to the assignee;

(b) without the benefit of the notice, the notice is to be deemed to have been withdrawn by the tenant as at the date of the assignment.

(9) If a rent variation notice is the subject of a registration or notice of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (7), the notice is binding on—

(a) any successor in title to the whole or part of the landlord’s interest under the qualifying lease, and

(b) any person holding any interest granted out of the landlord’s interest;

and any reference in this Schedule to the landlord is to be construed accordingly.