Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993

47 Application to defeat tenant’s claim where landlord intends to redevelop

(1) Where the landlord has given the tenant a counter-notice under section 45 which complies with the requirement set out in subsection (2)(c) of that section, the court may, on the application of the landlord, by order declare that the right to acquire a new lease shall not be exercisable by the tenant by reason of the landlord’s intention to redevelop any premises in which the tenant’s flat is contained; and on such an order becoming final the tenant’s notice shall cease to have effect.

(2) The court shall not make an order under subsection (1) unless it is satisfied—

(a) that the tenant’s lease of his flat is due to terminate within the period of five years beginning with the relevant date; and

(b) that for the purposes of redevelopment the landlord intends, once the lease has so terminated—

(i) to demolish or reconstruct, or

(ii) to carry out substantial works of construction on,

the whole or a substantial part of any premises in which the flat is contained; and

(c) that he could not reasonably do so without obtaining possession of the flat.

(3) Any application for an order under subsection (1) must be made within the period of two months beginning with the date of the giving of the counter-notice to the tenant; but, where the counter-notice is one falling within section 46(1)(a), such an application shall not be proceeded with until such time (if any) as any order dismissing an application under section 46(1) becomes final.

(4) Where an application for an order under subsection (1) is dismissed by the court, the court shall make an order—

(a) declaring that the landlord’s counter-notice shall be of no effect, and

(b) requiring the landlord to give a further counter-notice to the tenant by such date as is specified in the order.

(5) Where—

(a) the landlord has given such a counter-notice as is mentioned in subsection (1), but

(b) either—

(i) no application for an order under that subsection is made within the period referred to in subsection (3), or

(ii) such an application is so made but is subsequently withdrawn,

then (subject to subsection (7)), the landlord shall give a further counter-notice to the tenant within the period of two months beginning with the appropriate date.

(6) In subsection (5) “the appropriate date” means—

(a) if subsection (5)(b)(i) applies, the date immediately following the end of the period referred to in subsection (3); and

(b) if subsection (5)(b)(ii) applies, the date of withdrawal of the application.

(7) Subsection (5) shall not apply if any application has been made by the landlord for an order under section 46(1).

(8) Subsection (3) of section 45 shall apply to any further counter-notice required to be given by the landlord under subsection (4) or (5) above as if it were a counter-notice under that section complying with the requirement set out in subsection (2)(a) of that section.