Ratio Decidendi
The burden of a tenant's covenants in a lease runs with the land under the doctrine of privity of estate. An assignee of a lease is bound by and can enforce the covenants contained in it for the duration of their estate.
Hechos
The City of London granted a lease. The question arose whether the original tenant's covenants were enforceable against an assignee of the lease under the doctrine of privity of estate.
Resumen de la sentencia
The House of Lords confirmed that the burden of covenants in a lease passes to assignees under privity of estate, provided the covenants 'touch and concern' the land (have reference to the subject matter of the lease).
Citas clave
"The assignee takes both the benefit and the burden of covenants which touch and concern the land."
— Lord Templeman
Tratamiento posterior
The Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 reformed the law for new tenancies, abolishing the touch and concern test and providing automatic transmission of all covenants.