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Property law brief: quarterly review (July 2025)

18 July 2025 / Fern Schofield , Gwyneth Everson
Issue: 8125 / Categories: Features , Property , Commercial , Housing , Landlord&tenant
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Fern Schofield & Gwyneth Everson round up the lessons learnt from key property decisions in Spring 2025
  • Courts may require residential tenants seeking relief to assume commercial lease obligations.
  • The Court of Appeal clarified that land held under a statutory trust is not exempt from adverse possession claims under the Land Registration Act 2002, and that boundary agreements are binding on successors in title whether or not they had knowledge of it.
  • Several cases reinforced that actual occupation must be continuous and evident to bind third parties.

In this latest quarterly roundup, we explore some of the most notable recent decisions in property law from March, April and May 2025. To make sense of the varied terrain, we’ve grouped them into three distinct categories: cases primarily concerned with private individuals; cases with technical detail; and cases turning on the assessment of evidence.

Individual interests

Derwent Lodge Estates Ltd v Signature Living Hotel Ltd (in administration) and others [2025] 3 WLUK 402

Relief

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

Constantine Law—Alex Finch & Rebecca Tester

Constantine Law—Alex Finch & Rebecca Tester

Firm launches business immigration practice with dual partner hire

Freeths—Jane Dickers

Freeths—Jane Dickers

Scottish offering strengthened with dispute resolution partner hire in Glasgow

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
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