Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill [Lords] — [2nd Allotted Day] — New Clause 19 — Leases exceeding 21 years — 13 Mar 2002 at 21:02
'.-(1) This section shall apply to any lease granted for a term of years certain exceeding 21 years, whether or not it is terminable before the end of the term by notice given by or to the tenant or by re-entry, forfeiture or otherwise and whether made before or after the coming into force of this section, where the rent reserved for the time being is less than £1,000 per annum.
(2) In this section a right of forfeiture shall mean a provision in a lease whereby the landlord under a lease has a right to re-enter the premises demised (or part thereof) upon the happening of specified events, whether the right to re-enter is expressed as a condition or as a proviso on breach of covenant or otherwise howsoever.
(3) No landlord may re-enter the premises demised (nor any part thereof) pursuant to a right of forfeiture, insofar as the exercise of the right of forfeiture is based on the non-payment of money.
(4) Where a tenant fails to pay monies payable under the terms of the lease, the person entitled to payment of the said monies shall be entitled to a first legal charge (herein referred to as a "landlord's charge") over the lease for the monies payable and for his reasonable costs and expenses of and in connection with the landlord's charge and the enforcement thereof, such costs and expenses to be payable on the indemnity basis.
(5) Subject to the next subsection, a landlord's charge shall have priority to all charges, underleases and other encumbrances estates easements estoppels and rights of whatever description created by or deriving title from or through the tenant, whether at law or in equity and whether created or existing before or after the coming into force of this Act (hereinafter referred to as "subsidiary interests").
(6) Notwithstanding the previous subsection, no local land charge within the meaning of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 shall be a subsidiary interest.
(7) Subject to the next subsection, a landlord's charge may be enforced in any manner in which a first legal charge may be enforced.
(8) The landlord's charge may only be enforced by sale with leave of the High Court or the County Court.
(9) On such a sale, the purchaser shall purchase free from all subsidiary interests.
(10) Where a landlord's charge has no reasonably realisable commercial value, the landlord may apply to the High Court or the County Court for an order terminating the lease, but such an order shall not release the tenant from any pre-existing obligation under the lease.
(11) Any person holding any subsidiary interest shall be entitled to have subrogated to him the landlord's charge on payment of the sums secured by the landlord's charge and shall be entitled to add his reasonable costs and expenses of and in connection the said exercise of the right of subrogation to the landlord's charge, such costs and expenses to be assessed on the indemnity basis.
(12) Where more than one person holding a subsidiary interest wishes to have subrogated to him the landlord's charge, the priority as between such persons shall be determined in accordance with the rules of equity.
(13) Where on a sale of the lease pursuant to subsection (8) hereof, there is a surplus after payment of all the monies secured by the landlord's charge, the distribution of the said surplus shall be made in accordance with the rules of equity.
(14) Rules of Court shall provide for service on the tenant and on persons holding subsidiary interests of any application made pursuant to subsection (8) hereof for leave to enforce the landlord's charge by sale and for the circumstances in which such service may be dispensed with.
(15) Notwithstanding the provisions in subsections (4) and (11) hereof permitting the adding of costs and expenses to the landlord's charge, the High Court and the County Court shall have the power to make in substitution for the said provisions some different order as to incidence, basis and amount of the costs and expenses of the holder of the landlord's charge and of the lessee and of any other person where such different order would be just.
(16) The figure for the annual rental specified in subsection (1) hereof may be varied from time to time by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(17) Nothing herein shall affect the validity or effect of a forfeiture of a lease, whether by re-entry on or service of originating process seeking to re-enter the premises demised (or part thereof) or otherwise, effected before the coming into effect of this section.
(18) "Lease" in this section shall include underleases and "landlord" and "tenant" shall be construed accordingly.
(19) The existence or potential existence of a landlord's charge shall not prevent any person who is restricted or prohibited whether by statute or otherwise from lending money save on the security of a first legal charge from lending money on the security of a charge which, but for the existence or potential existence of the landlord's charge, would have been a first legal charge.'.-[Mr. Cash.]
Brought up, and read the First and Second time.
Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be added to the Bill:-
The House divided: Ayes 151, Noes 286.
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