Dilapidations Mediation in Devon and Cornwall
Dilapidations disputes — claims by landlords for disrepair and reinstatement at the end of a lease — are a common source of expensive litigation. The gap between what a landlord claims and what a tenant is prepared to pay can be substantial, but mediation has an excellent track record of bridging it.
What is a dilapidations dispute?
At the end of a commercial lease, a landlord may serve a schedule of dilapidations claiming the cost of repairs, redecoration and reinstatement works the tenant was obliged to carry out under the lease but did not. Tenants frequently dispute the extent of their liability, the reasonableness of the landlord's costings, or the actual loss suffered by the landlord.
Terminal and interim dilapidations
Disputes can arise both during a lease (interim dilapidations) and at its end (terminal dilapidations). Both are well suited to mediation. In terminal dilapidations cases in particular, mediation often produces a negotiated financial settlement that avoids costly and uncertain litigation.
Laurence's approach
Laurence's background in property litigation means he is familiar with the legal framework for dilapidations claims — the Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938, the supersession argument, the section 18 cap on damages — and can help parties engage meaningfully with the real issues rather than becoming entrenched in positional bargaining.
An initial conversation is free and without obligation.
Email Laurence 07757 216 786CMC-Registered mediator · 25+ years' litigation experience · Accredited, London School of Mediation
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