Law of Property Act 1925

121 Remedies for the recovery of annual sums charged on land. E+W

(1) Where a person is entitled to receive out of any land, or out of the income of any land, any annual sum, payable half-yearly or otherwise, whether charged on the land or on the income of the land, and whether by way of rentcharge or otherwise not being rent incident to a reversion, then, subject and without prejudice to all estates, interests, and rights having priority to the annual sum, the person entitled to receive the annual sum shall have such remedies for recovering and compelling payment thereof as are described in this section, as far as those remedies might have been conferred by the instrument under which the annual sum arises, but not further.

[F1 (1A) But where such a sum is charged by way of a regulated rentcharge, the rent owner does not have any of those remedies for recovering and compelling payment of the sum on and after 27 November 2023.]

F2 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) If at any time the annual sum or any part thereof is unpaid for forty days next after the time appointed for any payment in respect thereof, then, although no legal demand has been made for payment thereof, the person entitled to receive the annual sum may enter into possession of and hold the land charged or any part thereof, and take the income thereof, until thereby or otherwise the annual sum and all arrears thereof due at the time of his entry, or afterwards becoming due during his continuance in possession, and all costs and expenses occasioned by nonpayment of the annual sum, are fully paid; and such possession when taken shall be without impeachment of waste.

(4) In the like case the person entitled to the annual sum, whether taking possession or not, may also by deed demise the land charged, or any part thereof, to a trustee for a term of years, with or without impeachment of waste, on trust, by all or any of the means hereinafter mentioned, or by any other reasonable means, to raise and pay the annual sum and all arrears thereof due or to become due, and all costs and expenses occasioned by nonpayment of the annual sum, or incurred in compelling or obtaining payment thereof, or otherwise relating thereto, including the costs of the preparation and execution of the deed of demise, and the costs of the execution of the trusts of that deed:

Provided that this subsection shall not authorise the creation of a legal term of years absolute after the commencement of this Act, save where the annual sum is a rentcharge held for a legal estate.

The surplus, if any, of the money raised, or of the income received, under the trusts of the deed shall be paid to the person for the time being entitled to the land therein comprised in reversion immediately expectant on the term thereby created.

The means by which such annual sum, arrears, costs, and expenses may be raised includes—

(a) the creation of a legal mortgage or a sale (effected by assignment or subdemise) of the term created in the land charged or any part thereof,

(b) the receipt of the income of the land comprised in the term.

(5) This section applies only if and as far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the instrument under which the annual sum arises, and has effect subject to the terms of that instrument and to the provisions therein contained.

F3 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) The powers and remedies conferred by this section apply where the instrument creating the annual sum comes into operation after the thirty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, and whether the instrument conferring the power under which the annual sum was authorised to be created came into operation before or after that date, unless the instrument creating the power or under which the annual sum is created otherwise directs.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 121(1A) inserted (24.7.2024) by Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (c. 22), ss. 113(3), 124(2)(a) (with s. 113(5))

F2 S. 121(2) repealed (6.4.2014) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 148, Sch. 14 para. 23, Sch. 23 Pt. 4 (with s. 89); S.I. 2014/768, art. 2(1)(b)

F3 S. 121(6) repealed (6.4.2010) by Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009 (c. 18), ss. 4(a), 22(2), Schs. (with s. 15(1)(4)1718); S.I. 2010/37, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 121 saved by Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1964 (c. 55), s. 11(1); extended by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), s. 3