Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) Act 1939
1939 c.72
An Act to modify the rights and liabilities of landlords, tenants and other persons interested in land damaged by war.
[1st September 1939]
Part I

Modification of Obligations to Repair

Relief from obligation to repair in cases of war damage.
1
1
Where, by virtue of the provisions (whether express or implied) of a disposition or of any contract collateral thereto, an obligation (in this Part of this Act referred to as an “obligation to repair”) is imposed on any person to do any repairs in relation to the land comprised in the disposition, those provisions shall be construed as not extending to the imposition of any liability on that person to make good any war damage occurring to the land so comprised.
2
Where war damage occurs to land comprised in a disposition, then, in so far as compliance with an obligation to repair, as modified by the provisions of the preceding subsection, is, having regard to the extent of the war damage—
a
impracticable, or only practicable at a cost which is unreasonable in view of all the circumstances; or
b
of no substantial advantage to the person who, but for the provisions of this subsection, would be entitled to the benefit of the obligation;
the obligation shall be suspended until the war damage is made good to such an extent that compliance with the obligation is practicable at a reasonable cost and is of substantial advantage to the person entitled to the benefit thereof.
3
Any disposition or contract collateral thereto containing a provision whereunder an obligation to make good war damage as such is imposed on any person, shall have effect as if that provision were not contained therein.
4
Where, under the foregoing provisions of this section, an obligation to repair is modified or suspended or an obligation to make good war damage as such is extinguished, all rights and remedies (whether by way of damages, forfeiture, re-entry, sale, foreclosure or otherwise) arising out of the non-fulfilment of the obligation, including all rights against any person who has guaranteed the fulfilment of the obligation, shall be modified or suspended or extinguished accordingly.
5
In this section the expression “disposition” means any instrument (including an enactment) or oral transaction, whether made before or after the commencement of this Act, creating or transferring any interest in land.
6
Where a disposition is made under or in pursuance of an enactment which imposes an obligation to repair in relation to the land the subject of the disposition, the obligation shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to have been imposed by virtue of the provisions of the disposition.
7
The provisions of this section shall have effect subject to the provisions of Part II of this Act relating to notices of retention and notices to avoid disclaimer.

Supplementary provisions to be implied in leases and mortgages.
2
1
Where, by virtue of the provisions (whether express or implied) of any lease (whether made before or after the commencement of this Act) or any contract collateral thereto, an obligation to repair is imposed on the tenant, the lease shall have effect as if there were contained therein covenants by the tenant with the landlord that, in the event of war damage occurring to the land comprised in the lease, the tenant will—
a
as soon as practicable after the damage has become known, to him, serve a notice on the landlord stating that the damage has occurred and the general nature of the damage so far as it is known to him; and
b
permit the landlord or any person authorised by him, at such times as may be reasonable in the circumstances, to enter upon the land for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the damage and making it good either temporarily or permanently.
2
The foregoing subsection shall have effect as if references to a lease, tenant and landlord included respectively references to a mortgage, mortgagor and mortgagee:
Provided that it shall not be lawful for a mortgagee without the leave of the court to enforce any right or remedy arising out of a breach of the covenant referred to in paragraph (a) of the foregoing subsection.

Raising of money for making good war damage on settled land, &c.
3
Where war damage occurs to—
a
settled land; or
b
land which by virtue of section twenty-nine of the Settled Land Act 1925 (which relates to certain land vested or to be vested in trustees for charitable, ecclesiastical or public trusts or purposes) is deemed to be settled land; ...
c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the making good of the damage may be defrayed out of capital moneys, and accordingly shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any instrument, be deemed to be an improvement authorised by Part I of the Third Schedule to the Settled Land Act 1925 ....
Part II

Disclaimer and Retention of Leases

Notices affecting leaseholds

Power to disclaim leases or to retain on altered terms.
4
1
Where the land comprised in a lease is unfit by reason of war damage, the following provisions of this section shall have effect, whether the lease was made before or after the commencement of this Act.
2
The tenant may serve on the landlord either—
a
a notice (hereafter in this Act referred to as a “notice of disclaimer”) stating that he elects to disclaim the lease; or
b
a notice (hereafter in this Act referred to as a “notice of retention”) stating that he elects to retain the lease on the terms hereafter specified in this Act.
3
The landlord may, if no such notice has been served by the tenant, serve upon the tenant a notice (hereafter in this Act referred to as a “notice to elect”) requiring the tenant to serve on him, within the period allowed under this Act, either a notice of disclaimer or a notice of retention.
4
Where a notice to elect is served and the tenant does not comply therewith within the said period, he shall, unless the notice is of no effect under this Part of this Act, be deemed for the purpose of this Act to have served on the landlord at the expiration of the said period a notice of retention.
5
Where a notice of disclaimer is served (whether in pursuance of a notice to elect or not) the landlord may, within the period allowed under this Act, serve upon the tenant a notice (hereafter in this Act referred to as a “notice to avoid disclaimer”) requiring the tenant to retain the lease on the terms hereafter specified in this Act.

Period for complying with notice to elect or serving notice to avoid disclaimer.
5
1
The period allowed under this Act—
a
within which a tenant upon whom a notice to elect has been served must comply therewith; and
b
within which a landlord upon whom a notice of disclaimer has been served by a tenant may serve on the tenant a notice to avoid disclaimer;
shall, unless it is extended or abridged under this Part of this Act, be a period of one month from the date when the notice to elect or the notice of disclaimer, as the case may be, was served.
2
If, in the case of a notice to elect,—
a
the tenant on whom it is served, or his predecessor in title, has granted an underlease which comprises the land to which the notice relates or any part thereof; and
b
the said tenant, before the expiration of a period of fourteen days from the service of the notice, serves a notice to elect on the tenant under that underlease (hereafter in this section referred to as “the sub-tenant”) and informs the landlord in writing that such a notice has been served;
the said period of one month shall—
i
in a case where the sub-tenant complies with the notice to elect within the period allowed under this Act, and the said period of one month expires before the expiration of a period of seven days from the date when he complies with the notice, be extended until the expiration of those seven days; and
ii
in a case where the sub-tenant fails to comply with the notice to elect within the period so allowed, and the said period of one month expires before the expiration of a period of seven days from the end of the period so allowed, be extended until the expiration of those seven days.
3
If, in the case of a notice of disclaimer, the landlord on whom it is served—
a
is himself a tenant of the land to which the notice relates under a superior lease; and
b
before the expiration of a period of fourteen days from the service of the notice, serves on his landlord (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as “the superior landlord”) a notice of disclaimer in respect of that superior lease and informs his tenant in writing that such a notice has been served;
the said period of one month shall—
i
in a case where the superior landlord serves on the landlord within the period allowed under this Act a notice to avoid disclaimer, and the said period of one month expires before the expiration of a period of seven days from the date when that notice was served, be extended until the expiration of those seven days; and
ii
in a case where no such notice is served by the superior landlord within the period allowed under this Act, and the said period of one month expires before the expiration of a period of seven days from the end of the period so allowed, be extended until the expiration of those seven days.
4
Any period mentioned in this section may be extended or abridged by the court, on such terms as it thinks fit, on the application of any person affected by the extension or abridgement.
5
An application to the court under the last foregoing subsection for the extension of any such period may be made at any time whether before or after the expiration of that period, but where it is made after the expiration of the period, the court shall not extend the period unless it is satisfied that the interests of persons affected by the extension other than the applicant will be adequately protected by the terms imposed by the court or on the terms of an agreement or otherwise.

Determination of disputes as to unfitness of premises.
6
1
Where a notice of disclaimer . . . is served—
a
any person having an interest in or derived out of the term created by the lease to which the notice relates; or
b
any person having an interest in the reversion immediately expectant on the determination of that lease;
may, at any time within one month from the service of the notice, apply to the court to determine whether the notice is of no effect on the ground that the land comprised in the lease was not unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice was served.
2
Within one month from the service of a notice to elect on a tenant, he may serve on the landlord a notice (hereafter in this section referred to as a “counter-notice”)—
a
claiming that the notice to elect is of no effect on the ground that the land to which it relates was not unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice was served; and
b
stating the effect of the next following subsection.
3
Where a counter-notice is served, the notice to elect shall be of no effect unless the court, on the application of the landlord made within fourteen days from the service of the counter-notice, determines that the land in question was unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice to elect was served.
4
If on any application made under this section . . . the court determines that the land in question was unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice of disclaimer or notice to elect was served, the period allowed under this Act within which a notice to avoid disclaimer may be served by the landlord, or the notice to elect is to be complied with by the tenant, as the case may be, may be extended to such date as the court may fix.
5
Unless it is decided by the court on an application made under this section that a notice of disclaimer . . . or a notice to elect is of no effect on the ground that the land to which it relates was not unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice was served, the land shall be deemed for the purpose of any proceedings pursuant to the notice to have been unfit by reason of war damage at that time.

Notices of disclaimer

Particulars to be included in notices of disclaimer, &c.
7
1
A tenant serving a notice of disclaimer shall include therein such of the following particulars with respect to the lease disclaimed as are known to him, or can reasonably be ascertained by him, namely—
a
the term of and the rent reserved by any immediate underlease of the land comprised in the lease or any part thereof;
b
the name and address of the person to whom that underlease was granted and of the person (if any) to whom it has been assigned;
c
if the term created by the lease is mortgaged, the fact of the mortgage and the name and address of the mortgagee and his successor in title (if any).
2
Within seven days from the service of a notice of disclaimer, the tenant serving the notice shall serve upon any person claiming immediately under him (whether as assignee, mortgagee or lessee) in respect of an interest in the land comprised in the lease a notice stating that he has served the notice of disclaimer and the name and address of the landlord on whom it was served and such other particulars as are necessary to identify the lease disclaimed.
3
Every person upon whom a notice is served in pursuance of the last preceding subsection or this subsection shall, within seven days from the receipt of the notice, serve upon every person (other than the person from whom he has received the notice)—
a
who has immediately derived from him an interest in the land comprised in the lease; or
b
to whom he has immediately assigned such an interest; a notice stating the date on which the first-mentioned notice was served on him and the terms thereof and the effect of this and the next following subsection.
4
If any person fails to comply with the provisions of this section, he shall be liable to make good to any other person any damage suffered by that other person by reason of the failure.

Effect of notice of disclaimer.
8
1
Where a notice of disclaimer is served, the following provisions of this section shall have effect, subject to any order of the court under the next following section, at the expiration of the period allowed under this Act within which notice to avoid disclaimer may be served, unless a notice to avoid disclaimer is served within that period or the notice of disclaimer is otherwise of no effect under this Part of this Act.
2
As from the date when the notice of disclaimer was served—
a
the lease disclaimed shall be deemed to have been surrendered; and
b
all sub-leases derived out of the term created by the lease disclaimed shall also be deemed to have been surrendered, except a sub-lease—
i
by virtue whereof any person is entitled to the actual occupation of the land comprised in the disclaimed lease or of any part thereof; and
ii
in respect of which no notice of disclaimer has been served; and
c
all interests in the term created by the lease disclaimed or any sub-lease which is deemed to have been surrendered as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been extinguished.
3
Any notice of disclaimer, notice of retention or notice to elect served in respect of any sub-lease which is deemed to have been surrendered by virtue of this section shall be of no effect.

Power of court to modify effect of notice of disclaimer.
9
1
On an application duly made under this section, the court shall have power to modify the operation of a notice of disclaimer as stated in the last foregoing section as follows:—
a
by varying the date on which subsection (2) of that section takes effect or the date as from which any lease or sub-lease is deemed to have been surrendered or any interest therein is deemed to have been extinguished;
b
by excepting from the operation of that section, on such terms as the court thinks just, any sub-lease and any interest therein which would otherwise be deemed to have been surrendered or extinguished;
c
by vesting on such terms as the court thinks just the lease disclaimed, or any sub-lease which would otherwise be deemed to have been surrendered, in any person having an interest in the lease or sub-lease other than the tenant thereunder.;
d
by imposing such terms and making such orders as to the removal of fixtures and otherwise as the court thinks just.
2
The terms imposed by the court under paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of the last foregoing subsection may include such alterations as the court thinks just of the terms of the lease or sub-lease in question.
3
An application under this section may be made by any person—
a
having an interest in or derived out of the term created by the lease disclaimed; or
b
having an interest in the reversion immediately expectant upon the determination of that lease;
at any time within the period allowed under this Act for serving a notice to avoid disclaimer.
4
Unless the court otherwise directs, no application under this section and no order of the court thereon shall prejudice the right of a landlord to serve a notice to avoid disclaimer within the period allowed by this Act.

Notices of retention and notices to avoid disclaimer

Effect of notice of retention.
10
1
Where a notice of retention is served or is deemed to have been served in respect of a lease, then, unless the notice of retention is of no effect under this Part of this Act or the notice to elect by virtue whereof the notice of retention is deemed to have been served is of no effect under this Part of this Act, the lease shall have effect subject to the following modifications:—
a
There shall be implied in the lease, notwithstanding anything in Part I of this Act, a covenant by the tenant with the landlord that the land comprised in the lease shall be rendered fit as soon as is reasonably practicable after the date when the notice was served or is deemed to have been served:
Provided that where before that date any person has guaranteed the performance of the covenants in the lease, the guarantee shall be deemed not to extend to the covenant implied in the lease by virtue of this paragraph:
b
Subject to the powers of the court under the following provisions of this subsection, no rent shall be payable by the tenant under the lease in respect of the period beginning with the date when the notice was served or is deemed to have been served and ending with the date on which the land is rendered fit:
c
Where the court is satisfied, on the application of the landlord made at any time before the land has been rendered fit, that part of the land is capable of beneficial occupation, the court may direct that there shall be payable by the tenant such rent, at such times and in respect of such period as the court may fix:
Provided that the amount of the rent fixed by the court under this paragraph shall not exceed such proportion of—
i
the annual value at the time of the application of so much of the land as is at that time capable of beneficial occupation; or
ii
the full annual rent reserved by the lease; whichever is the less, as the period in respect of which the rent is payable bears to a year:
d
Where the court is satisfied, on the application of the landlord made at any time, that there has been unreasonable delay on the part of the tenant in rendering the land fit, the court may direct that there shall be payable by the tenant such rent (not exceeding the rent reserved by the lease) at such times and in respect of such period as the court may fix.
2
In this section the expression “rent”, in relation to a lease, includes any periodical sum payable by the tenant to the landlord in connection with his tenancy whether for services, lighting, heating, board, use of furniture or otherwise, and references to rent reserved by a lease include references to any such sum contracted to be paid by any agreement.

Effect of notice to avoid disclaimer.
11
1
Where a notice to avoid disclaimer is served in respect of a notice of disclaimer, the notice of disclaimer shall be of no effect and, unless the notice of disclaimer is of no effect by reason of some other provision of this Part of this Act, the lease to which it relates shall have effect subject to the following modifications:—
a
There shall be implied in the lease, notwithstanding anything in Part I of this Act, a covenant by the landlord with the tenant that the land comprised in the lease shall be rendered fit as soon as is reasonably practicable after the service of the notice to avoid disclaimer:
Provided that where before the service of the said notice any person has guaranteed the performance of the covenants in the lease, the guarantee shall be deemed not to extend to the covenant implied in the lease by virtue of this paragraph:
b
Subject to the powers of the court under the next following paragraph, no rent shall be payable by the tenant under the lease in respect of the period beginning with the date of the service of the notice of disclaimer and ending with the date on which the land is rendered fit:
c
If the court is satisfied, on the application of the landlord made at any time before the land has been rendered fit, that any part of the land is capable of beneficial occupation, the court shall have the same powers as it has under paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of the last foregoing section.
2
In this section the expression “rent” has the same meaning as in the last foregoing section.

Recurrence of war damage after service of notice.
12
1
Where land comprised in a lease has been rendered unfit by war damage, and further war damage occurs to the land before it has been rendered fit and after notice of retention has been or is deemed to have been served, or notice to avoid disclaimer has been served, in respect of the lease, the tenant or the landlord, as the case may be, may apply to the court for leave to withdraw the notice.
2
On any such application the court shall grant leave to withdraw the notice if it is satisfied that the liability of the tenant or the landlord, as the case may be, in respect of repairs under the lease as modified in pursuance of the notice has been materially increased by the further war damage.
3
As from the date on which the notice is withdrawn—
a
any notice to elect served on the tenant or notice of disclaimer served on the landlord before that date shall be of no effect; and
b
the lease shall have effect as if the notice withdrawn had never been served, or been deemed to have been served:
Provided that nothing in this subsection shall, unless the court having regard to all the circumstances of the case otherwise determines, impose on the tenant a liability for rent under the lease in respect of any period before that date.
4
In this section the expression “rent” has the same meaning as it has in the two last foregoing sections.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Special provisions as to certain leases

Provisions as to leases comprising two or more separate tenements.
15
1
In relation to a multiple lease section six of this Act shall not apply and the other provisions of this Part of this Act shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in this section.
2
Where a notice of disclaimer,
. . .or a notice to elect is served with respect to the lease—
a
the person serving the notice or the person on whom it is served; or
b
any other person having an interest in or derived out of the term created by the lease, or having an interest in the reversion immediately expectant on the determination of the lease;
may apply to the court, within one month from the service of the notice, to determine the question whether the tenant should be allowed to exercise the right of disclaimer
. . ., either as respects the lease as a whole or as respects one or more of the separate tenements comprised therein, or should not be allowed to exercise that right at all.
3
If on such an application the court is satisfied that, having regard to the extent of the war damage suffered by the land comprised in the lease as a whole and all the circumstances of the case (including any offers made by the landlord for an extension of the term of the lease or for an alteration of the rent reserved thereby or for any other modification of the terms of the lease) it is equitable to allow the tenant to exercise the said right in respect of the lease as a whole, the court shall give a direction accordingly, and any notice of disclaimer
. . . already served shall have effect under this Part of this Act, and the court—
a
in a case where a notice of disclaimer has been served (whether in compliance with a notice to elect or not) may extend to such date as it may fix the period allowed under this Act within which a notice to avoid disclaimer may be served by the landlord; or
b
in a case where a notice to elect has been served and has not been complied with, may extend to such date as it may fix the period allowed under this Act within which the notice to elect must be complied with.
4
If on such an application the court, having regard to the matters referred to in the last foregoing subsection, is not satisfied that it is equitable to allow the tenant to exercise the right of disclaimer
. . . as respects the lease as a whole, but is satisfied that it is equitable to allow him to exercise the said right as respects one or more of the separate tenements comprised therein (hereafter referred to as “
the disclaimable tenements
”), the court—
a
shall order that the lease shall be treated as if it were two separate leases, one comprising the disclaimable tenement or tenements, and the other comprising the remainder of the tenements; and
b
shall give such consequential directions as to the apportionment of the rent and otherwise as it thinks just, including directions as respects any sub-lease comprising a disclaimable tenement and a tenement which is not disclaimable; and
c
shall order that the tenant shall be at liberty to serve a notice of disclaimer
. . . as respects the lease comprising the disclaimable tenement or tenements but not as respects the other lease; and
d
where a notice of disclaimer
. . . has been served (whether in compliance with a notice to elect or not), shall order that the notice shall be of no effect; and
e
where a notice to elect has been served, extend to such date as it may fix the period allowed under this Act within which the notice to elect must be complied with; and
f
may empower the landlord, if the tenant serves a notice of disclaimer as respects the lease comprising the disclaimable tenement or tenements, to enter upon the land comprised in the other lease for the purpose of doing work on the land comprised in the disclaimed lease.
5
If on such an application the court, having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (3) of this section, is not satisfied that it is equitable to allow the tenant to exercise the right of disclaimer
. . . as respects the lease as a whole or as respects one or more of the separate tenements comprised therein, the court shall direct that the land comprised in the lease shall not be deemed to be unfit for the purposes of this Part of this Act and that any notice of disclaimer,
. . . or notice to elect relating thereto shall cease to have effect:
Provided that the court may, if having regard to the extent of the war damage suffered by the land it considers it equitable to do so, order that the rent reserved by the lease shall, until the war damage is made good, be reduced to such extent as may be specified.
6
Unless an application is made to the court under this section with respect to a notice of disclaimer
. . . or a notice to elect served with respect to a multiple lease, the land comprised in the lease shall be deemed for the purpose of any proceedings pursuant to the notice to have been unfit by reason of war damage at the time when the notice was served.

Power of landlord to recover possession of whole property comprised in ground lease or multiple lease.
16
1
Where under this Part of this Act—
a
a ground lease has been disclaimed or a multiple lease has been disclaimed as respects all or some of the separate tenements comprised therein; and
b
the landlord is not entitled to possession of the whole of the land comprised in the lease free from any interest in or derived out of the term created by the lease;
the court may, on the application of the landlord made at any time, grant to him the right to such possession on such terms as to payment of compensation or otherwise as appears just.
2
Where—
a
land comprised in a ground lease which has not been disclaimed under this Part of this Act is unfit by reason of war damage; and
b
the term of the lease will expire before the expiration of five years from the date of an application under this section;
the court may, if it is satisfied on the application of the landlord, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, that it is equitable so to do, grant to him the right to possession of the land comprised in the lease on such terms as to payment of compensation or otherwise as appear just.

Exclusion of agricultural and mining leases.
17
Nothing in this Part of this Act shall apply to an agricultural lease or a mining lease.
Part III

Miscellaneous and General

Extension of powers as to restrictive covenants in certain cases.
18
1
Where the buildings comprised in a ground lease or a multiple lease (whether made before or after the commencement of this Act) have been rendered unfit by war damage, the provisions of section eighty-four of the Law of Property Act 1925 (which relate to the discharge and modification of restrictive covenants) shall have effect, in relation to the land comprised in the lease, subject to the modifications specified in this section:
Provided that no application which could not have been entertained by the Authority if this section had not passed shall be made to the Authority after the buildings have been rendered fit.
2
In addition to the grounds for the exercise of the powers of the Authority specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of the said section eighty-four, those powers may be exercised, in relation to restrictions affecting the interest created by the lease, on the Authority being satisfied that the proposed discharge or modification is desirable in order to permit the economical use or development of the land comprised in the lease, or is otherwise desirable in the national interest.
3
Where any restriction affecting the interest created by the lease is wholly or partially discharged or modified on any of the additional grounds specified in the last foregoing subsection, the powers of the Authority may be exercised on any of those additional grounds in relation to any similar restriction affecting the freehold out of which that interest is derived.
4
The said section eighty-four shall, notwithstanding anything in subsection (12) thereof, apply to restrictions affecting interests created by the lease in like manner as it would have applied to restrictions affecting the land had the land been freehold, whatever the term of the lease and whatever period of the term has expired.

Provision as to agricultural and mining leases.
19
Where any buildings or works comprised in an agricultural lease or mining lease (whether made before or after the commencement of this Act) are unfit by reason of war damage, the court may, on the application of the tenant, either determine the lease or modify the terms thereof, whether by reducing the rent payable thereunder or otherwise, according as appears just having regard to all the circumstances of the case.

Provision as to notices.
20
1
Any notice required or authorised to be served under this Act shall be in writing.
2
Any such notice may be served either—
a
by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served; or
b
by leaving it at the usual or last known place of abode of that person; or
c
by sending it in a prepaid registered letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode; or
d
in a case where it is to be served on a body corporate, by delivering it to the secretary or clerk thereof at the registered or principal office thereof or sending it in a prepaid registered letter addressed to the secretary or clerk thereof at that office; or
e
in such other manner as the court on an application made in that behalf may direct.
3
Where the interest of a former landlord or tenant in the land comprised in a lease has passed to any person—
a
service of any such notice on that former landlord or tenant by a person who does not know and has no reason to believe that the interest has passed, shall be treated for the purpose of this Act as service on the person to whom the interest has passed;
b
the former landlord or tenant, on the receipt of any such notice, shall forthwith serve the notice on the person to whom the interest has passed, and, if he fails to do so, shall be liable to make good to any other person any damage suffered by that other person by reason of the failure.
4
A notice with respect to a lease shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been served on the landlord if it is served on any person for the time being authorised by the landlord to receive the rent payable under the lease.

Contracting out forbidden.
21
The provisions of this Act shall have effect in relation to any war damage notwithstanding any contract to the contrary made before that damage occurred.

Application to the Crown.
22
This Act binds the Crown, and shall apply to land belonging to His Majesty, or forming part of the possessions of the Duchy of Cornwall, or belonging to a Government Department, or held in trust for His Majesty for the purposes of a Government Department.

Provisions as to county courts.
23
1
Subject to the provisions of section one hundred and fifteen of the County Courts Act 1959 (which provides for the removal into the High Court of any proceedings commenced in the county court), the jurisdiction of the court under this Act shall be exercised by the county court.
2
In any proceedings under this Act, the powers of a judge of summoning one assessor under subsection (1) of section ninety-one of the County Courts Act 1959, may be exercised notwithstanding that no application is made in that behalf by any party to the proceedings.
3
Where an assessor is summoned by a judge in any proceedings by virtue of the last foregoing subsection—
a
he may, if so directed by the judge, inspect the land to which the proceedings relate without the judge, and report to the judge in writing thereon; and
b
the judge may, on consideration of the report and any observations of the parties thereon, give such judgment or make such order in the proceedings as may be just.
4
The remuneration of an assessor summoned as aforesaid shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.

Interpretation.
24
In this Act unless the context otherwise requires the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say,—
- “agricultural lease” means a lease the land comprised wherein consists wholly or mainly of agricultural land or agricultural buildings within the meaning of the General Rate Act 1967;
- “annual value”, in relation to land, means the rent at which the land might reasonably be expected to let from year to year, if the tenant undertook to pay all usual tenants’ rates and taxes and the landlord undertook to bear the cost of repairs and insurance and the other expenses necessary to command that rent;
- “ground lease” means a lease at a rent (or, where the rent varies, at a maximum rent) which does not substantially exceed the rent which a tenant might reasonably have been expected, at the commencement of the term created by the lease, to pay for the land comprised in the lease, excluding any buildings, for a term equal to the term created by the lease;
- “interest,” in relation to land, means any estate or interest in the land, whether legal or equitable;
- “land” means land of any tenure, and includes any buildings or works situated on, over or under land;
- “landlord” in relation to a lease means the person who under the lease is, as between himself and the tenant, for the time being entitled to the rents and profits of the demised premises payable under the lease;
- “lease” and “mining lease” have the same meaning as in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927;
- “mortgage” includes charge and debenture;
- “multiple lease” means a lease comprising buildings which are used or adapted for use as two or more separate tenements;
- “tenant,” in relation to a lease, means the person for the time being entitled to the term created by the lease;
- “unfit” means—
  1. in relation to buildings or works, or to land of which three-quarters or more of the value is attributable to buildings or works, unfit for the purpose for which those buildings or works were used or adapted for use immediately before the occurrence of the war damage in question, having regard to the class of tenant likely to occupy similar buildings or works which are not unfit for that purpose, to the standard of accommodation available at the material time, and to all other circumstances; and
  2. in relation to other land, unfit for any purpose for which the tenant can be reasonably expected to use the land, having regard to the terms of the lease under which it is held;
and the expression “fit” shall be construed accordingly;
. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Short title and extent.
26
1
This Act may be cited as the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) Act 1939.
2
No provision of this Act shall extend to Scotland, and no provision of this Act, . . . shall extend to Northern Ireland.
S. 1 excluded by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), ss. 5(4), 15
1925 c. 18.
S. 3(c) repealed (1.1.1997) by 1996 c. 47, s. 25(2), Sch. 4 (with ss. 24(2), 25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art. 2
1925 c. 18.
S. 4 restricted by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 1(1)(9); extended by ibid., s. 10(2)
Words in s. 6(1)(4)(5) inserted by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41) and repealed (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 44, s. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. VI Group 1
S. 8 extended by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 2(2); amended by ibid., s. 13
S. 9 restricted by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 10(3); extended by ibid., s. 2(2)
S. 10 restricted by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 2(4); extended by ibid., s. 2(8) and amended by ibid., s. 13
Words substituted by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 17(4)
S. 11 amended by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), ss. 13, 17(4)
S. 12 amended by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 17(4)
Ss. 13, 14 repealed by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 10(1)(3)
S. 15 substituted by virtue of Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 2(5), Sch.
Words in s. 15 repealed (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 44, s. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. VI Group 1
Functions of the Authority under Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20), s. 84 now exercisable by Lands Tribunal: Lands Tribunal Act 1949 (c. 42), s. 1(4)
1925 c. 20.
Words substituted by virtue of County Courts Act 1959 (c. 22), s. 205(5)
1959 c. 22.
1959 c. 22.
S. 24 amended by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 17(2); explained by ibid., s. 17(3)
Words substituted by virtue of General Rate Act 1967 (c. 9), s. 116(6)
1967 c. 9.
1927 c. 36.
Definition of “war damage” repealed by Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act 1941 (c. 41), s. 17(2)
S. 25 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. 1
Words repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I
Words in s. 23(1) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
S. 3(d) and word omitted (19.5.2025) by virtue of Charities Act 2022 (c. 6), s. 41(4), Sch. 1 para. 3(a); S.I. 2024/265, reg. 4, Sch. 2 para. 3
Words in s. 3 omitted (19.5.2025) by virtue of Charities Act 2022 (c. 6), s. 41(4), Sch. 1 para. 3(b); S.I. 2024/265, reg. 4, Sch. 2 para. 3