Image from Google Jackets

Hotchkin v McDonald and others

Series: Estates Gazette ; [2004] 18 EG 100 CS (1)Publication details: 2004Subject(s): Online resources: Summary: [2004] EWCA Civ 519, 20 April 2004. Appeal against a Lands Tribunal (LT) decision regarding a right of way restricted by a user covenant. The right of way is a driveway across the appellant's (H) land and sole access to the defendant's (M) property. M applied to the Lands Tribunal, under the Law of Property Act 1925 s84(1), for the complete discharge or modification of the user covenant to allow M's property to be used as a holiday letting on a commercial basis and for a health and fitness centre. H claimed that this would mean the driveway could no longer be used for access as such use would be excessive and outside the scope of the original easement. On going to court, it was held that if the LT discharged or modified the relevant clause, the permitted use of the right of way should also be changed to extend to any activity that could be lawfully carried out on M's property. H appealed on the grounds that the judge's decision extended the scope of LT's jurisdiction, restricted by s84(1) of the Act to the modification or discharge of restrictive covenants, to vary the terms of a right of way. "Held:" appeal dismissed. View judgment at www.bailii.org.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
Law report London Journal article ABS67786 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 126252-1001

[2004] EWCA Civ 519, 20 April 2004. Appeal against a Lands Tribunal (LT) decision regarding a right of way restricted by a user covenant. The right of way is a driveway across the appellant's (H) land and sole access to the defendant's (M) property. M applied to the Lands Tribunal, under the Law of Property Act 1925 s84(1), for the complete discharge or modification of the user covenant to allow M's property to be used as a holiday letting on a commercial basis and for a health and fitness centre. H claimed that this would mean the driveway could no longer be used for access as such use would be excessive and outside the scope of the original easement. On going to court, it was held that if the LT discharged or modified the relevant clause, the permitted use of the right of way should also be changed to extend to any activity that could be lawfully carried out on M's property. H appealed on the grounds that the judge's decision extended the scope of LT's jurisdiction, restricted by s84(1) of the Act to the modification or discharge of restrictive covenants, to vary the terms of a right of way. "Held:" appeal dismissed. View judgment at www.bailii.org.