Dilapidations – A Practical Approach

Contents

Terminal dilapidations claims can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating. Against the background of the dilapidations protocol and the need to consider mediation at all stages, this on-line video approaches such claims from a practical standpoint:

• Allocating resources & deciding strategy – the importance of ascertaining the rough size of the claim
• Understanding the impact of the needs of current lettings market on the claim against the tenant
• Old buildings – what the landlord can expect in terms of the standard tenant’s repairing obligation
• Air-conditioning, heating & electrical systems – is replacement sensible, and must the tenant pay?

Learning Objectives

On completion of this video you should have:

• Increased awareness of the importance of early valuation of the claim in terms of resource allocation and the method of dispute resolution
• An understanding of the distinction between repair and replacement, and when the costs of replacement and upgrading will be recoverable and when not
• An appreciation of the impact of age and the demands of the market on a terminal dilapidations claim
• An understanding of the need for qualitative stringency of evidence and the duties of experts

Speaker

SARAH THOMPSON-COPSEY

Sarah Thompson-Copsey is a former property litigation partner at the City law firm now known as Dentons, handling all types of commercial property problems, but with an emphasis on avoiding & resolving commercial landlord and tenant disputes. Sarah now works as a freelance lecturer, trainer and author and lectures & writes regularly on commercial property topics, as well as providing independent auditing and consulting services for law firms.

Sarah is co-author of Tenants’ Pre-emption Rights: A landlord’s guide to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (Jordans) and Mixed Use and Residential Tenants’ Rights: The Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 and Leasehold Enfranchisement, (Elsevier 2009). She is also on the property consultation board of Practical Law Company and a site editor for the Property Law website at www.propertylawuk.net.