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17 April 2008 / Sarah Greer
Issue: 7317 / Categories: Features , Public , Property , Housing
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Watching the clock

A recent appeal court case may prompt lenders to evict defaulting mortgagors sooner rather than later, says Sarah Greer

The recent Court of Appeal decision of Ashe v National Westminster Bank plc [2008] EWCA Civ 55, [2008] All ER (D) 128 (Feb) sent a collective shiver down the spines of mortgage providers already feeling the impact of the current credit crunch. Although Mummery LJ made it clear that the practical implications of the decision were “in danger of being exaggerated”, it will undoubtedly cause lenders to look again at their policies on obtaining possession of properties from defaulting mortgagors.

The Facts

In 1989, the Babais granted a second legal charge over their home in Stockport to the National Westminster Bank (the bank) to secure Mr Babai's liabilities on his accounts with the bank. There was already a first mortgage on the property with the Halifax. Under the terms of the agreement, the bank had an immediate right to possession of the property, and this was not restricted under the agreement or reliant

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

NEWS
A time-restricted bank tax, a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’, extension to parental leave, entrepreneur’s relief and a giveaway on energy bills for households are the headlines in Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey’s 2026 Autumn Budget
A Court of Appeal judge has lamented the ‘very concerning’ state of the law on employee inventor compensation after a chemist’s case took five-and-a-half years to reach court, eventually being listed for a 37-day trial next year
The Law Society has emphasised that responsibility remains human, in a practice note on artificial intelligence (AI)
Respect orders, which enable police, councils, housing associations, transport networks and other authorities to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour, have come into force across England and Wales
The Land Registry has launched two consultations aimed at making its information more publicly accessible, ‘Restructuring HM Land Registry fees’, and ‘Future of access to HM Land Registry information’
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