The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: Principles and Practical Application

This presentation provides a practical overview of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, focusing on security of tenure, lease renewal and termination procedures. It will cover when the Act applies, how business tenancies are brought to an end or renewed, and the main grounds on which landlords can oppose renewal. The session will also highlight key risks, timing issues and strategic considerations that commonly arise in practice.

Who this is for:

Property professionals, solicitors and trainees.

Top 3 takeaways from the webinar:

1. Security of tenure is the default position

Most business tenants have a statutory right to remain in occupation and seek a new lease when their contractual term expires, unless the lease has been validly contracted out.

2. Termination under the Act is highly procedural

Bringing a protected tenancy to an end requires strict compliance with statutory notice procedures (including section 25 notices and section 26 requests), and errors in timing or form can invalidate the process.

3. Opposing renewal requires clear evidence and strategy

A landlord can only refuse a new lease on specific statutory grounds, and successfully relying on these—particularly redevelopment—requires proper evidence and careful planning well in advance.

CPD hours:

This webinar provides you with 1 hour of learning.

Attendees will receive a CPD certificate upon completion of this course.

Learning objectives:

• Understand when the 1954 Act applies to business tenancies
• Explain the concept of security of tenure and its effect
• Identify the procedures for renewal or termination (s.25 and s.26)
• Recognise the main statutory grounds of opposition
• Appreciate key practical and strategic issues arising in disputes