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NLJ this week: Tenants win big, lenders lose out, & SLAPPs get real

11 July 2025
Issue: 8124 / Categories: Legal News , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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In his latest Civil Way column, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold rounds up a civil litigation smorgasbord

In London Trocadero v Picturehouse, a tenant successfully reclaimed £700k in insurance overcharges, with the court ruling that landlord commissions and admin fees weren’t part of the ‘premium’.

The Court of Appeal’s new civil guide is out—92 pages of procedural wisdom (coffee tips not included). The Equal Treatment Bench Book now covers emotional support animals in court—yes, even spaniels.

Meanwhile, SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) now have a statutory definition under the Economic Crime Act, with CPR changes in force. And in Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank, the Supreme Court ruled that lenders must be alert to undue influence in hybrid loans. If a vulnerable borrower is disadvantaged by a partner’s debts, lenders are ‘put on enquiry’—and risk losing possession rights if they fail to act. A landmark win for victims of economic abuse.

Issue: 8124 / Categories: Legal News , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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