Leasehold Reform Act 1967

20 Jurisdiction and special powers of county court. E+W

(1) Subject to section 115 of the M1 County Courts Act 1959, any jurisdiction expressed to be conferred on the court by this Part of this Act shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be exercised by the county court.

(2) Except as provided by this section and section 21 below, there shall also be brought in the county court any proceedings under this Part of this Act of the following descriptions:—

(a) proceedings for determining whether a person is entitled to acquire the freehold or an extended lease of a house and premises, or to what property his right extends;

(b) proceedings for determining what provisions ought to be contained in a conveyance in accordance with section 10 or 29(1), or in a lease granting a new tenancy under section 14;

(c) any other proceedings relating to the performance or discharge of obligations arising out of a tenant’s notice of his desire to have the freehold or an extended lease, including proceedings for the recovery of damages or compensation in the event of the obligations not being performed;

(d) any proceedings for determining the amount of a sub-tenant’s share under Schedule 2 to this Act in compensation payable to a tenant under section 17 or 18, or for establishing or giving effect to his right to it.

(3) Where in connection with any acquisition by a tenant of the freehold or an extended lease under this Part of this Act it is necessary to apportion between the house and premises (or part of them) and other property the rent payable under his tenancy or any superior or reversionary tenancy, then, subject to section 115 of the County Courts Act 1959 and to section 21 below, the apportionment shall be made by the county court.

(4) Where it is made to appear to the court that the landlord or the tenant has been guilty of any unreasonable delay or default in the performance of obligations arising from a tenant’s notice of his desire to have the freehold or an extended lease under this Part of this Act, then (without prejudice to any right to damages) the court may—

(a) by order revoke or vary, and direct repayment of sums paid under, any provision made by a previous order as to payment of the costs of proceedings in the court in relation to the matter, or, where costs have not been awarded, award costs;

(b) certify particulars of the delay or default to the [F1 Upper Tribunal] with a view to enabling the Tribunal to exercise a like discretion in relation to costs of proceedings before the Tribunal.

[F2 (4A) Where the court certifies particulars of delay or default to the [F3 Upper Tribunal] under subsection (4)(b) above, the [F3 Upper Tribunal] may make any order as to costs of proceedings before the [F3 Upper Tribunal] which the court may make in relation to proceedings in the court.]

(5) Where a person gives notice of his desire to have the freehold or to have an extended lease of a house and premises under this Part of this Act, and the notice either is set aside by the court or withdrawn, or ceases to have effect, or would, if valid, cease to have effect, then if it is made to appear to the court—

(a) that the notice was not given in good faith; or

(b) that the person giving the notice attempted in any material respect to support it by misrepresentation or the concealment of material facts;

the court may, on the application of the landlord, order that person to pay to the landlord such sum as appears sufficient as compensation for damage or loss sustained by the landlord as the result of the giving of the notice.

(6) In any case where under subsection (5) above the court has power, on the application of the landlord, to order a person to make a payment to the landlord, the court (whether or not it makes an order under that subsection) may, on the application of the landlord, order that any further notice given by that person under this Part of this Act of his desire to have the freehold or an extended lease of the same house or any part of it, with or without other property, shall be void if given within the five years beginning with the date of the order.

(7) Subsection (2)(c) above shall not prevent the bringing of proceedings in a court other than the county court where the claim is for damages or pecuniary compensation only.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 20(4)(b) substituted (1.6.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions (Lands Tribunal and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1307), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 83 (with Sch. 5)

F2 S. 20(4A) inserted (30.9.2003 for E., 30.3.2004 for W.) by Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (c. 15), s. 181(1), Sch. 13 para. 4; S.I. 2003/1986, art. 2(c)(i) (with Sch. 2); S.I. 2004/669, art. 2(c)(i) (with Sch. 2)

F3 Words in s. 20(4A) substituted (1.6.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions (Lands Tribunal and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1307), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 83 (with Sch. 5)

Marginal Citations

M1 1959 c. 22.