News

Careful Drafting - A reminder to landlords to take care when drafting notices for possession of property

In the recent case of Masih, R (on the application of) –v- Yousaf [2014] EWCA Civ 234 the Court of Appeal considered the landlord's failure to include formal wording in a section 8 Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988) notice. The Court ruled that the notice was valid even though it failed to include the precise wording set out in paragraph 8 of schedule 2 to the HA 1988.

The legal press about the case has included statements such as 'welcome news for Landlords' and 'reassuring news'. However, it is important that caution should be expressed along with the optimism. Whilst the landlord may have technically won his case, his legal fees in doing so will have been considerable. A Court of Appeal decision, whether in your favour or not, comes at a very high cost to all involved and will have taken some time to achieve. The only safe way to ensure a landlord’s notice will be valid, and possession regained as  quickly as possible, is to use the prescribed form which includes the wording you need to use and not to deviate from it. If in doubt, it pays in the long term to seek legal advice to ensure the notice conforms to the prescribed wording.

Posted on 04/27/2014 by Ortolan

Get in Touch

If you would like to know more about Ortolan Legal and how we can help you reduce your ongoing recruitment costs, get in touch!

Email us now

   Or call 020 3743 0600

Ortolan Legal have supported us with some very tricky tribunal issues. They are very commercially focussed and truly understand our business. They give really commercial, practical advice which supports our business.

Sharon Eley, Shared Services Director, National Car Parks Limited
See All
Receive news & updates from Ortolan Legal

Meet the Team

  • Nick Benson Nick Benson I qualified as a commercial and corporate solicitor…
  • Liz Delgado Liz Delgado I qualified as a solicitor in 1995 after studying…
  • Carrie Beaumont Carrie Beaumont I qualified as an Employment specialist in 2008. I…