This is the wording of the ground:
The tenancy is a periodic tenancy (including a statutory periodic tenancy) which has devolved under the will or intestacy of the former tenant and the proceedings for the recovery of possession are begun not later than twelve months after the death of the former tenant or, if the court so directs, after the date on which, in the opinion of the court, the landlord or, in the case of joint landlords, any one of them became aware of the former tenant’s death.
For the purposes of this ground, the acceptance by the landlord of rent from a new tenant after the death of the former tenant shall not be regarded as creating a new periodic tenancy, unless the landlord agrees in writing to a change (as compared with the tenancy before the death) in the amount of the rent, the period of the tenancy, the premises which are let or any other term of the tenancy.
Now let’s pick it apart.
Don’t confuse this with ‘Succession’, which is what happens when one tenant dies and the tenancy automatically transfers to the surviving husband, wife or civil partner (or in some cases, family member).
This is about one tenant inheriting the tenancy under a will or (if the tenant did not leave a will) under the intestacy rules.
We are still on mandatory grounds for possession here so the beneficiary of a will won’t be able to defend against a possession application but the landlord must apply quite promptly.
The ground in the original act specifies ‘periodic tenancy’ but this was changed by the Localism Act s162(5). Now the ground can be used for all fixed term tenancies save any tenancies where a premium was paid (very rare) or if the tenancy has any value.
The ground says “Proceedings for the recovery of possession are begun not later than twelve months after the death of the former tenant”
Which means court proceedings, not merely service of a section 8 notice. If court papers haven’t been filed within 12 months of the death then a landlord could lose. As it is a two month notice period, this means that the notice must be served well before the end of month 10.
Helpfully the ground does state clearly that acceptance of rent from the beneficiary occupant whilst possession proceedings are being brought will not create a tenancy between the landlord and the beneficiary.
Defending this ground
Very little to it for advocates, other than to keep an eye on the time frame for proceedings.
Also check to see that the landlord hasn’t provided anything in writing that the rent being taken during the period between the death and the possession order constitutes a new tenancy. Highly unlikely.
Fixed term tenancies (there are a couple of exceptions) were included in this ground under an amendment introduced by s162(5) Localism Act 2011.
Thanks Tony. I have done an amendment to the post now. There is an exception though:
“This ground does not apply to a fixed term tenancy that is a lease of a dwelling-house—
(a)granted on payment of a premium calculated by reference to a percentage of the value of the dwelling-house or of the cost of providing it, or
(b)under which the lessee (or the lessee’s personal representatives) will or may be entitled to a sum calculated by reference, directly or indirectly, to the value of the dwelling-house.”