Motives Don't Matter For An Intention To Redevelop

In the recent High Court case of S'Franses Ltd v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Ltd it was held that a landlord can show sufficient intention to carry out works even though he has only resolved to do those works to comply with Ground (f), that is to say, Section 30(1)(f) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

Termination of business tenancies

If a lease is protected under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, the tenant has a right to a renewal lease; this right is subject to the landlord's ability to terminate the lease if he can prove that one or more of the specified grounds apply.

One of the most frequently used grounds is Ground (f): that the Landlord has an intention to demolish or reconstruct the premises on the termination of the current tenancy or intends to carry out substantial works of construction on the holding and could not reasonably do so without obtaining possession.