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14 February 2025 / Ben Hatton , Jordan Gulwell , Natasha Vij
Issue: 8104 / Categories: Features , Property , Landlord&tenant , Housing , Nuisance
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Lessons in real estate litigation

Ben Hatton, Jordan Gulwell & Natasha Vij explore 2024’s stand-out cases in real estate litigation: what can we learn for the coming year?

  • The status of roof gardens, the right to manage in mixed-use developments, undisclosed moths, and insufficient evidence all kept the courts busy last year.

In 2024, the real estate litigation arena witnessed several landmark cases that have redefined legal interpretations and set new precedents. The cases address issues ranging from building safety to lease, and understanding these developments is crucial for stakeholders in the property sector. Whether you are a developer, property manager, or tenant, these cases may influence your rights and obligations in respect of the Building Safety Act 2022, security of tenure and beyond.

Determining high-risk buildings

The Smoke House case (Blomfield (flat 504) and others v Monier Road Ltd [2024] Lexis Citation 1049) arose from a dispute over the classification of a building as a higher-risk building (HRB) under the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). The central issue was whether a roof garden constituted an additional

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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