Leasehold Law
SIR,—The law of leasehold is not in a tangle but has been badly adminis- tered by the judges. When a building lease has been granted the position becomes anomalous, for the building when erected will be the absolute personal property of the lessee and can be removed by him upon or before the expiry of the lease. The building can never pass into the hands of the lessor or his heirs, and any provision in a lease to the contrary would be null and void. The law is quite clear as to this, but requires restatement. The granting of building or other long leases at a ground rent should be forbidden. Instead, long leases should be given in consideration of a rent-charge on the land. The rent-charge could be permanent or, if granted for a term of years, should be renewable t y the tenant. Leasehold enfranchisement would not be equitable if unilateral, but if the tenant had the right to renew his lease enfranchise- ment would not be necessary. The leasehold system as we know it should certainly go, so far as building and long leases are concerned. Any reform of the law must be according to principles and not based on the views of different individuals or on minor or secondary considerations.
—Yours faithfully, G. W. R. THOMSON. 13 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham. Kent.
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