In-depth discussion of Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v Medley Assets Ltd

Wayne Clark discusses Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v Medley Assets Ltd with Mark Galtrey, who successfully represented the tenant. He defeated the landlord’s opposition under ground (f) to the grant of a new tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (‘the Act’)

The decision was handed down in March 2024 by His Honour Judge Richards in Central London Country Court.  Judge Richards decided a novel and important point of law in relation to the extent of ‘the holding’ for the purposes of opposed lease renewals, and also made powerful observations about the quality of expert and factual evidence needed to support a ground (f) opposition by a landlord. 

The discussion centres on that part of the decision that relates to works to the basement and to the question of the extent of the tenant’s holding for the purposes of considering the works falling within ground (f).