Griffiths v English (1982)

A landlord who lived in a separate extension to his tenant was regarded a resident landlord as the structure had the appearance of one building and there were not separate gardens.

The landlord owned a house that had a single storey extension built on each side. There were no internal connections. The landlord occupied one extension, and the tenant occupied another. The sole issue to be decided by the court was whether the tenant’s extension formed part of a building that was also occupied by the landlord.

HELD: The Court of Appeal held that as the structure had the appearance of one building and there were not separate gardens, the parties were in close proximity and should be considered to occupy dwelling-houses in the same building. The landlord was regarded a resident landlord (within the meaning of the Rent Act 1977, which is very similar to that of the Housing Act 1988.)

Citation: Griffiths v English (1982) 261 E.G. 257