Current work
- Court Users' Committees, including Central London County Court
It is proposed that the success of the Central London County Court Users' Committee and work done by the LRC be expanded to include other County Court Users' Committees. Members of the LRC sit on the CLCC's Business User Group which deals with the business of the Court and comments/concerns of practitioners who use it. If you have any queries/comments in relation to Central London County Court, please direct these to Alan Langleben or Kerry Glanville.
- Dilapidations Protocol
The LRC continues to deal with the Dilapidations Protocol and liaise with the RICS Dilapidations Forum Steering Group and the Civil Justice Council. It is anticipated that the Protocol will be adopted under the Civil Procedure Rules in October 2011. As part of this, the LRC have drafted, at the request of the Civil Justice Council, the required Dilapidations Protocol Checklist, together with the accompanying Guidance Note. Any comments should be directed to Jacqui Joyce or Keith Conway.
- Land Chamber and Upper Tribunal
Kerry Glanville is monitoring proposed jurisdictional changes and the possible unification of administration of all Courts. Any comments should be forwarded to Kerry Glanville or Keith Conway.
- Liaising with DCLG – LT 1954 Act
The LRC continues to monitor any proposed reforms to the LT 1954 Act. These tend to concern contracting out. Other areas of concern for the LRC are those in respect of discontinuance of renewal proceedings by landlords without any costs provisions being prescribed by the Rules as well as concerns regarding Disclaimers and Guarantors in relation to renewal proceedings. To some extent, the Good Harvest decision may have assisted in relation to the issue of Guarantors. Any comments should be directed to Jacqui Joyce or Keith Conway.
- PACT Scheme for 1954 Act Renewals
The PLA Law Reform Committee is liaising with the RICS in respect of the PACT scheme for 1954 Act renewals. Please direct queries to Jacqui Joyce.
- PLA County Courts Survey
Following the success of the Central London County Court Users' Group a survey has been promoted by LRC of all County Courts. The survey can be found at the following link: Property Litigation Association County Court Survey – Your chance to have your say. It is hoped that the information gathered from this survey can be used to highlight areas of good practice in County Courts that can be emulated by others. In addition, the country has been divided into the following areas and LRC members have taken responsibility for enquiring as to the survey issues in respect of the relevant local County Courts. The following areas have been assigned:
East Anglia, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich: Richard Hanson.
South East: Kerry Glanville.
South West: Peter Bourke.
Midlands: Suzanne Lloyd-Holt.
North East and North West: Nick Levy.
Any comments should be addressed to Richard Anyamene or Keith Conway.
- Service Charge Code
The LRC is commenting on the Draft Service Charges in Commercial Property (Code of Practice) and is liaising with the RICS in this regard. The LRC is directing its comments towards the Dispute Resolution and ADR provisions. Any comments should be addressed to Vivien King or Keith Conway.